PASSE RES. { 216 ) COR VI D^. 



THE EOOK. 



CROW, CRAW, CORN CRAW. 



Gorvus frugilegus. 

 W^z Ctato, %}^t Corn Ccato* 



Should I my steps turn to the rural seat, 

 Whose lofty elms and venerable oaks 

 Invite the Nook, who high amid the boughs. 

 In early Spring, his airy city builds, 

 And ceaseless caivs amusive. 



Thomson, Spring. 



Rooks are very numerous in Berwickshire, where they seem 

 to have increased considerably within the last twenty or 

 thirty years. The farmers complain of the damage which 

 they do to newly sown corn and potato fields in spring, as 

 well as to ripening grain in harvest. After the corn is cut, 

 they attack the " stooks " ; and, during severe weather in 

 winter and spring, they commit depredations on stacks 

 by making large holes in the thatch, to feed upon the 

 ears of corn, which they carry off in great quantities, if 

 they are allowed to do so. During the very stormy and 

 snowy weather which was experienced in March 1888, 

 they did much injury to ricks standing in fields at a 

 distance from farm-steadings, and were sometimes seen 

 feeding on them in thousands. When a " lying storm " of 

 snow sets in, they frequent turnip fields, and pierce holes in 

 the bulbs, which are rotted by water collecting in the holes 

 and freezing. Wood Pigeons also get more easily at the 

 inside of the bulbs when their skins are thus broken. 



