214 ROOKS. 



a pouch under its chin, in which it can carry a full sup- 

 ply of food for its young. 



It is perfectly true that Rooks appear to have such an 

 appendage, which, in the Spring-time, is particularly con- 

 spicuous, when they may be seen flying with a swelling 

 under the throat, of the size of a Pigeon's egg; but 

 closer observers have discovered that in the Crow, Jack- 

 daw, &c., there is the same elasticity and pliability of the 

 skin ; and that they not only can, but do often take in a 

 provision of food, which swells the upper part of the 

 throat out to a considerable size ; though, owing to the 

 gray colour of the Rook's chin, this swelling is more 

 apparent. 



We now come to a more important question respecting 

 Rooks, in the settlement of which the world is much 

 divided. Are they beneficial or injurious to man ? Is 

 the farmer a gainer or a loser, by being subjected to the 

 daily visits of two or three hundred of these birds from 

 a rookery ? 



In former days, there can be no question of public 

 opinion being entirely against them, and that the de- 

 struction of Rooks was regular and systematic, an infe- 

 rence which may be fairly drawn from the following 

 entry amongst certain presentments concerning the parish 

 of Alderley, in Cheshire, in 1598, being the fortieth year 

 of Queen Elizabeth's reign : " We find that there is no 

 Crow-nett in the parish, a payne that one be bought by 

 the charge of the parish." 



As in most cases, so in this, we are inclined to think 

 that a great deal may be said on both sides ; for, as the 

 Rook cannot be altogether acquitted of the charge of 

 doing some harm, so neither is he to be found guilty of 

 doing nothing but mischief. We will examine, first, the 

 unfavourable side. A Rook, which we kept for some 

 time, was, after a night's fast, fed entirely upon oats, of 

 which it ate, in twenty-four hours, two ounces, of sixteen 

 ounces to the pound; while another, under similar cir- 

 cumstances, consumed two ounces and a half of bread. 



