BIRDS IN THE CALENDAR 



heron is, particularly in the vicinity of a 

 preserved trout stream, the more costly 

 neighbour. Indeed it is the only other bird 

 which nests in colonies of such extent, but 

 there is this marked difference between herons 

 and rooks, that the former are sociable only in 

 the colony. When away on its own business, 

 the heron is among the most solitary of birds, 

 having no doubt, like many other fishermen, 

 learnt the advantage of its own company. 



One of the most remarkable habits in the 

 rook is that of visiting the old nests in mid- 

 winter. Now and again, it is true, a case of 

 actually nesting at that season has been 

 noticed, but the fancy for sporting round the 

 deserted nests is something quite different 

 from this. I have watched the birds at the 

 nests on short winter days year after year, 

 but never yet saw any confirmation of the 

 widely accepted view that their object is the 

 putting in order of their battered homes for 

 the next season. It seems a likely reason, 

 but in that case the birds would surely be 

 seen carrying twigs for the purpose, and I 

 never saw them do so before January. What 

 other attraction the empty nurseries can 

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