WATCHING ROOKS 299 



they sink, but the moon is now becoming luminous, 

 and the swish and ' coo-ee, hook-a-coo-ee ' of peewits 

 is about one on one's way back, over the heath." 



I will conclude this fragment of my rook diary by 

 giving a list of some of the distinct notes or sounds 

 which I have, at different times, heard the birds utter. 

 It is but a small page out of their vocabulary, but it 

 may, perhaps, serve to draw attention to the great 

 powers of modulation and inflexion which these birds 

 possess. I must confess that the way in which the 

 voice of the rook is usually spoken of makes me 

 wonder. To me it has often seemed as though these 

 birds were really in process of evolving a language. 

 In only a few cases, however, have I been able — or 

 have I thought myself able — to connect a note with 

 any particular act or state of mind. Here is the 

 list: 



Caw (the ordinary " caw " more or less). 



Chi-choo, chi-choo, chi-choo. 



Cha. 



Chug-a, chug-a, chug-a. 



Chug-chaw. 



Chack-a, chack-a. 



Choo (very prolonged). 



Chuck (loud, clear, and distinct). 



Chee-ow (very lengthened). 



Ha-cha ("a" as in "hat"). 



Har-char. 



How-chow, or chow-how. 



Hoc, hoo. 



Hook-a-hoo. 



Hook-a-hoo-loo. 



