BIRDS OF THE WAVE AND WOODLAND 95 



After that one experience, and the absolute proof of the inno- 

 cence of those rooks when in my potato-field, I need hardly 

 say that when any farmer complains, or scientist asserts, 

 that these birds do injury to potatoes when growing, I know 

 he is saying " the thing that is not." 1 have also had eggs 

 stolen by rooks from a nest that a vagabond fowl had made 

 for herself in the tall meadow-grass. But was the rook to 

 blame ? Certainly not. What right has a hen to go and 

 lay her eggs in a meadow, carefully hiding them from her 

 friends in the tall grass, but leaving them conspicuously 

 exposed to every bird that files over them ? As for its 

 depredation on turnips, what difference in the amount of 

 sheep-food do the rooks' pilferings make in a twenty-acre 

 crop? Instead of grumbling, the intelligent farmer should 

 scatter a barrow-load or two of mangolds conspicuously over 

 the field for the frozen-out birds to eat at their comfort and 

 to keep them from pecking the crops. 



Indeed, there is scarcely any other bird that has more 

 claims upon the agriculturist's goodwill. From sunrise 

 to sunset rooks are always at work, following the farmer's 

 men wherever they are disturbing the ground, and exter- 

 minating insects that are thus exposed. At other times 

 they are patrolling the meadows, going over every foot of 

 ground with extraordinary patience, and we may be sure 

 that nothing that moves escapes their keen inquisitorial eye. 

 When the nests are filled with young ones, the destruction 



