554: BRITISH BIRDS. 
and to be compelled to seek refuge elsewhere. But at last their caws are 
heard in lessening numbers ; and finally all is silent. 
When the young are able to fly, the whole colony, both young and old, 
frequently soar to an immense height directly above the nest-trees, and 
wheel round and round in circles, ever and anon buffeting each other. 
Then, when anxious to alight, they often perform the motion known to 
country-people as “ shooting,” coming down with great rapidity on wings 
a little raised and in a zigzag direction. To see a large number of Rooks 
so engaged is indeed a grand sight. By many people this peculiar flight 
is thought to portend wind; but it is merely the birds’ mode of alighting 
on ground or trees directly beneath them. As a rule the Rook alights 
more slowly and warily, and often passes and repasses over the same 
ground. 
Like most other species of the Crow tribe, Rooks are almost omni- 
vorous. They are very fond of picking a bone, if they can get the 
chance. In autumn they vary their fare with acorns, which they obtain 
very often by flying up to the slender twigs and breaking them off by 
their own weight, hanging suspended from them. Of their propensity 
for egg-stealing little need be said. That they will sometimes despoil a 
nest cannot be denied; but such cases are very exceptional. They have 
also been said to feed on small birds and mammals. Rooks often frequent 
the sea-coast in search of the numerous animal substances to be found 
there. Sometimes they may be seen preying upon mussels, obtaining the 
mollusk by carrying the shell up to some considerable height and dropping 
it on a rock or stone, just as the Crows do. Fruits of various kinds also 
form part of their diet, as well as beech-nuts and berries. Although a 
rookery is not to be encouraged in the neighbourhood of a Grouse-moor, 
we have no bird of greater use to the agriculturist ; and its few litle 
failings are amply repaid by its countless good offices in ridding fields 
and pastures of some of their greatest pests. 
Much controversy has taken place, and considerable diversity of opinion 
exists, as to the nature of the bare patch at the base of the mandibles of 
the Rook. ‘That this bareness is produced by the bird rubbing off its 
feathers when digging in search of food is impossible; for if such were 
really the case, why should not the Carrion-Crow, the Jackdaw—in fact, 
all others of its kindred—exhibit a similar peculiarity? for all dig just as 
much. There can be but little doubt that these small feathers drop off— 
a peculiarity which began in some remote ancestor of the Rook and, 
proving to the adyantage of the species, was developed by natural 
selection. 
The Rook has the entire plumage black, beautifully glossed, especially 
on the upper parts, with rich bluish purple, especially on the head and 
neck. At the base of both mandibles, and extending some way down the 
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