PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



and Wales, and is plentiful in Scotland, breeding as far 

 north as the Orkneys and Shetland. It also breeds 

 in Western Siberia and Turkestan, and is found through- 

 out Central and Southern Europe during summer. It is 

 easily recognised by the caw. Its gregarious character- 

 istics are well known, and thousands of these birds are 

 sometimes seen wending their way home to the rookeries 

 in the evening. 



The chief food of the Rook consists of wire-worms, the 

 larvae of the cockchafers, but the farmer knows how very 

 destructive these pests are in the autumn and the winter, 

 likewise in the spring, when cereals have been planted. 

 They are also a nuisance in the potato fields, and it is 

 customary to wage war on the Rooks during the nesting 

 season. Sometimes many thousands are destroyed at this 

 period, as annual shoots on certain estates are organised for 

 this purpose. 



It is sometimes spoken of as the Black Pest. When 

 short of food it is not very particular as to how it obtains 

 its living, and will resort to predatory habits in a similar 

 manner to the Carrion Crow. Fresh young birds, eggs, 

 mice, fish, acorns, beech-nuts, berries and sundry other 

 articles, such as potatoes and grain, are all alike palatable 

 to Mr Rook. These birds begin to repair their nests early 

 in March, and sometimes earlier, there being instances on 

 record of Rooks commencing nesting in January. The nest 

 is composed of strong sticks and twigs, dead leaves, mud and 

 feathers. It is a slovenly built nest. 



The knowing habits of the Rooks render them very 

 difficult to shoot, excepting when returning to the rookeries 

 in the evening. Their shyness in the face of man, 

 especially when he is carrying a gun, is too well known 

 to need further comment. 



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