THE ROOK. 217 



Rooks appear to have done so much damage to corn iu 

 the time of James i. of Scotland, that an Act was passed by 

 the Scottish Parliament in 1424, for the purpose of lessening 

 their numbers : " For thy that men considderis that Euikes 

 biggand in Kirk Zairdes, Orchardes, or Trees, dois greate 

 skaith upon Cornes : It is ordained that they that sik Trees 

 perteinis to, lette^ them to big, and suffer on na wise that 

 their birdes flie away. And quhair it be tainted that they 

 big, and the Birdes be flowin, and the nest be funden in the 

 Trees at Beltane,^ the trees sal be foirfaulted to the King 

 (bot gif they be redeemed fra him, throw them that they 

 first perteined to), and hewin downe, and five schillings to 

 the Kingis unlaw." ^ 



This Act was followed by another of a like nature in 

 1427. Parliaments have at various times made similar 

 laws for the destruction of many of our birds, including some 

 which are now rare. In the time of Henry viii. an Act was 

 passed against Choughs, Crows, and Eooks, and the last- 

 named birds were condemned by Elizabeth.^ 



Some statis are plagued with snakis and frogs, 

 And other kingdoms with mad dogs — 

 Some are hurt with flocks of Crowes, 

 Devouring corn and their lint bowes.'' 



Cleland. 



Mr. George Buchan- Hepburn of Smeaton, in his General 

 View of the Agrimlture of East-Lotliian, 1794, says that 

 " Since the Earl of Haddington's woods at Tynningham have 



1 Hinder or prevent. 



2 Beltane, Beltein,— the name of a sort of festival observed on the 1st of Hay 

 (o.S.) Hence used to denote the term of Wliitsunday. — Jamieson's Scot. Diet. 

 [This date would be about the 13th May at present.] 



3 The Laws and Acts of Parliament of Scotland, by Sir Thomas Murray of 

 Glendook, Knight and Baronet: Edinburgh, 1681, p. 3. 



4 See Bishop Stilliugfleet's Works, vol. ii. p. 561. 



5 Jamieson in his Scot. Diet, states that "lint bowes" are the globules which 

 contain the seed of the flax. 



