294 



night to roost in the hightrees that here and there break 

 the monotony of the hedges, and is sometimes one of the 

 latest birds to retire, his grating cry being heard over- 

 head when the bird himself is hardly visible against 

 the darkening sky. Solitary as these birds are in their 

 habits by day, I yet know of a grove of common pop- 

 lars (localh^ called aspens) where the Crows congregate 

 to roost in such nnmbersas would not discredit a good 

 sized rookery. They generally choose high trees for 

 building purposes, whose height affords protection 

 from enemies, but will sometimes, in common with 

 other crafty birds, lose their habitual caution as regards 

 the site for the nest, and build in a low bush or hedge 

 within the reach of any passer-by. He is a great 

 persecutor of the Kestrel Hawk, and will fly at the 

 Heron if the latter approaches too near his nest. 



The Rook is common in this district, but does- 

 not haunt the river so much as the Crow, paying more 

 attention to the fields, whence he returns at even to 

 the rookery near the old grey church tower, where 

 he is safe from the machinations of prejudiced and 

 ignorant agriculturists. 



Like the Rook the Jackdaw flourishes under eccle- 

 siastical protection, and finds the church towers most 

 convenient nesting places. When fledged they assem- 

 ble in small flocks, feeding in the fields, and some- 

 times take wing like a flock of pigeons, making a 

 tremendous clamour, as if each individual Jackdaw 

 was trying to caw his loudest. 



The Royston or Hooded Crow is a fairly common 

 visitor, appearing some years in greater numbers than 

 in others. It haunts the river like the Carrion Crow 

 and appears to have the same habits. 



