272 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



emitting its angriest, most raucous screams while 

 hovering just over her head, and having thus 

 relieved its indignant feelings it flew heavily away 

 to the far end of the field, and settling down 

 began prodding away at the soil. The cow, 

 standing still, gazed after it, and one could almost 

 imagine her saying: *'So you won't get out of 

 the field! Well! I'll soon make you. I'm going 

 to have it all to myself this morning." And at 

 once she began rapidly walking towards the bird. 

 But half-way to it was the post set up in the 

 middle of the field for the cows to rub their 

 hides, and on coming abreast of it the sight of 

 it and its proximity suggested the delight of a 

 rub, and turning off at right angles she walked 

 straight to the post and began rubbing herself 

 against it. The rook went on with its business, 

 and after that there was no more quarrelling. 



Another morning this same old rook came with 

 his mate to the field: separating, they came down 

 a distance of a hundred yards or more apart and 

 began searching for grubs. By and by the old 

 cock discovered something particularly good and 

 after vigorously prodding the turf for a few 

 moments he sprang up and flew excitedly to his 



