WATCHING ROOKS 275 



spring up at each other — like pheasants, but grappling 

 and pecking in the air as do blackbirds and small birds 

 generally. Sometimes one bird will be worsted in the 

 tussle, and you instantly see it on its back, striking up 

 with claws and beak at the other, who now bestrides it. 

 It is easier to see this result than to be sure as to the 

 process by which it is arrived at — whether, for instance, 

 the overmatched bird falls, willy-nilly, on its back, or 

 purposely throws itself into that position, so as to 

 strike up like a hawk or owl. I think that this last 

 may sometimes be the case, from the very accustomed 

 way in which rooks fight under such circumstances ; 

 but, no doubt, it would only be done as a last resource. 

 The rooks, however, do not seem vindictive, and their 

 quarrels, though spirited, are usually soon over. They 

 may end either by the weaker or the less acharne bird 

 retiring, in which case the pursuit is not very sustained 

 or vigorous, or else by both birds, after a short and not 

 very rancorous bout, pausing, appearing to wonder 

 what they could have been thinking about, and so 

 walking away with mutual indifference, real or 

 assumed. Often one bird will decline the combat, 

 and in this case, as far as I can see, it is not molested 

 by the challenger, however bullying and aggressive 

 this one's manner may have been. A rook coming 

 up to another with the curious sideway swing of 

 the body and a general manner which seems to 

 indicate that he thinks himself the stronger of the 

 two, looks a true bully. 



" One rook has just found something, and, whilst 

 standing with it in his bill, another comes forward 

 to dispute it with him, but the attack is half-hearted, 

 and seems more like a mere matter of form. After- 



