THE ROOK AND HIS KIN. w20 
In its social habits, the rook is a curious contrast 
to the crow, which, as I have before stated, is a re- 
markably solitary bird, and is very seldom seen in 
company with others of its kind. A single rook, in- 
deed, is a rare sight, while a flock of many hundreds 
is not at all unusual, and in some cases, such as that 
already referred to, these hundreds are replaced by 
thousands. Each community is governed by certain 
laws which are rigorously administered, any breach 
thereof being visited by prompt and certain punish- 
ment. The younger birds, for instance, are not 
allowed to build at a distance from the main body ; 
and the stealing of sticks, &c., from nests belonging to 
others is a crime of the deepest dye. In all breaches 
of these regulations, the main body of birds appear 
to band together against the offender, who in serious 
cases is even condemned to death and executed upon 
the spot. 
About the second week in March great excitement 
is usually manifested in the community, and a general 
inspection takes place of the last year’s nests. Some, 
which have suffered severely from the storms of 
winter, or which are situated in trees showing signs 
of decay, are adjudged to be no longer safe, and the 
materials are removed to do duty elsewhere. Others 
which have received less injury are carefully patched 
and made whole; while the young birds and those 
whose dwellings have been condemned are busy at 
work selecting sites for building operations. Day after 
day the work of repairing and constructing is carried 
on, the rooks retiring at nightfall to their winter 
