40 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



generally chosen as a fitting- site for its nest, which is 

 composed of wool, down, hair, and suchlike materials, 

 supported on a rough platform of twigs and sticks. 

 Macgillivray states that if the male bird be killed, 

 the female soon procures a new mate. 



Rook {Corvtis fritgilegtis). This well-known and 

 much-abused bird is numerous everywhere, there 

 being a great number of Rookeries in the two coun- 

 ties, one of the oldest and most interesting of which 

 is in the Eton playing-fields. The first Rook's nest 

 was observed here in the spring of 1838, and after 

 that year the number of nests visibly and steadily 

 increased. Some few years aferwards, as Mr. Wolley 

 informed me, nearly all the trees in the 'fields' were 

 occupied by black denizens ; but several pairs of birds 

 deserted certain old trees which they had before 

 nested in, and which were blown down before the 

 close of the year. What wonderful instinct was it 

 that led these birds to seek more secure abodes } 



White and pied varieties are occasionally met with. 

 A pied Rook was often observed in the Home Park, 

 Windsor, in the summer of 1845, and was eventually 

 shot by Mr. James Barfield, at Horton, near Datchet. 

 Worms, grubs, caterpillars, chafers, and other noxious 

 nsects, constitute their chief food. 



Jackdaw {Corvus moncdidd). This active and 

 sociable species is very common ; and the Round 

 Tower, and many of the belfries and ruined arches of 

 Windsor Castle afford to these noisy Daws excellent 



