140 IN PAIRING TIME 



Our rookery this year (1905) comprises over one 

 hundred and fifty nests. The birds are present 

 there every day throughout the year. About the 

 first week in March they settle permanently to reside 

 and sleep in the rookery, during the remainder of 

 the year visiting it occasionally during the day, but 

 retiring at sundown to sleep elsewhere. At all times 

 throughout the year they feed in the fields sur- 

 rounding the rookery. 



Early in February, and therefore about a month 

 before they return to take up summer residence with 

 us, some of the birds separate out into pairs and feed 

 together in the fields. These, I take it, are mates 

 of old standing ; for this pairing, or re-pairing, takes 

 place with less dispute than later attends first-pairing 

 among the younger birds. Some of the latter, 

 however, appear at times to desire to make overtures 

 to their grandmothers, and have to be made to 

 understand that this is against rook-law, at any rate 

 during the lifetime of their grandsires. Although, 

 by re-pairing, the old birds are saved some of the 

 labour of contest, the ardours and antics of first-love 

 are always renewed. Long ere the young birds 

 have learned to make a courtesy, their seniors are 

 bowing to one another, beak to ground and tail in 

 air ; or the cock, with drooping wings and spread, 

 depressed tail, is strutting before his lady as in the 

 pride of his youth. Hence when the birds return to 

 the rookery for the summer, old birds have a con- 

 siderable start of the younger generation, having 

 often but to overhaul the old nests, and go straight 

 ahead with conjugal duties. 



Our rookery is in the form of a Greek Pi. The 



