254 CORVID^E. 



latter view, and that for two reasons : first, if it be necessary 

 (and that is not at all clear) that the Eook, in order to 

 supply itself with food, should have no feathers at the 

 base of its bill, I believe that nature would not have 

 resorted to so clumsy a contrivance, and one so annoying 

 to the bird, as that of wearing them away bit by bit; 

 and, secondly, the bare spot is, as far as I have observed, 

 of the same size and shape in all birds, and at all periods 

 of the year, a uniformity which can scarcely be the result 

 of digging in soils of various kinds, and at all seasons. I 

 cannot, therefore, but think that the appearance in ques- 

 tion is the result of a law in the natural economy of the 

 bird, that the feathers are not rubbed off, but fall off, and 

 that they are not renewed, because nature never intended 

 that they should grow there permanently ; if not, why is 

 there no similar abrasion in the Crow? The number of 

 lambs eaten by Crows is very small after all, and birds' eggs 

 are not always in season, nor is carrion so very abundant ; 

 so that, during a great portion of the year, even Crows must 

 dig for their livelihood, and the great distinction between 

 a Crow and a Eook is, that the former has actually no bare 

 space at the base of his bill. But the question is still 

 open, and the reader may make his own observations, 

 which, in Natural History, as well as in many other things, 

 are far better than other people's theories. 



In very dry summer weather, Rooks are put to great 

 shifts in obtaining food. Grubs and worms descend to a 

 great depth to get beyond the influence of the drought, 

 and the soil is too parched and hard for digging; they 

 then retire to the sea-shore, to marshes, fresh-water and 

 salt, to cabbage and potato gardens, and in the last-named 

 localities they are again disposed to become marauders. 

 To fruit gardens they are rarely permitted to resort, or they 

 would commit great ravages. As the season advances, ripe 

 walnuts are a very powerful attraction, and when they have 

 discovered a tree well supplied with fruit, a race ensues 



