102 ON THE DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS, 
when in places the Rye was for a time quite withered where these 
active birds had been tearing up the turf. The well known 
practice of Rooks following the plough, and devouring the grubs 
thrown up, is one which is noted by even the most casual 
observers. Often have we seen an army of hundreds of the mem- 
bers of the corvine family scattered over a park or pasture ground 
in winter for hours together, and reflected on the wonderful part 
performed by these birds in keeping within due bounds insect life 
of the most injurious kind. A well known popular writer thus 
refers to the destructive nature of the cockchaffer grubs. ‘‘ Pur- 
suing their destructive labours unseen, and never appearing above 
the surface of the ground until they take their adult form, these 
larvee are more formidable enemies than even the slug, the snail, 
and the caterpillar, creatures which can be detected and destroyed 
by man. Neither human eye nor touch can discover the subter- 
ranean larve as they silently consume the very life of the plants 
on which they feed, cutting away the tender rootlets, and causing 
a blight, as it were, to fall on the herbage. Many an acre of 
grass, many a fine crop of vegetables has been blighted from no 
apparent cause; the plant ceases to grow, the leaves lose their 
fresh, healthy colour, they become limp and droop, the vivid green 
fades out of them, and changes to yellow, the edges crumple up, 
and the plant dies. There is no external sign of injury, and until 
the plant be uprooted, and search made below, no destroyer is 
visible ; but in the earth, or entangled in the roots of the dying 
plant, will be found an inconspicuous, brownish, smooth-skinned, 
sharp-jawed grub, whose sleek condition shews the extent of its 
feeding, and whose trenchant teeth have eaten away the sources 
of life. Hidden, however, as they are from human view, they 
cannot conceal themselves from the senses of the Rook.’ So 
much for the Rook: at least to shew that he does a wondrous 
amount of good. I will leave his evil deeds to the discovery of 
his enemies, having every confidence that they will, in the course 
of their investigations, find that these are far outweighed by his 
good ones. 
Let us next notice the House Sparrow. Our old friend, Gilbert 
White says—Chaffers are eaten by the Turkey, the Rook, and the 
