THE ROOK. 143 



numbers accurately up to three inclusive, but that this is 

 the limit of their capacity of calculation. This peculiarity 

 in the rook has been discredited by many, but, when tested 

 by experiment, has been again and again verified. For 

 example, when they are so pressed for food during a 

 snowstorm as to visit a stack of grain, let a place of con- 

 cealment be extemporised by branches of trees, or other 

 material, within easy shot, where watchers can successfully 

 conceal themselves. If, after being repeatedly fired at 

 from the ambush in question, the rooks discover one, two, 

 or three persons betake themselves to the place of conceal- 

 ment and leave at intervals, it will be found that they will 

 not descend to feed until the last of the three has left. 

 But should four or more persons place themselves under 

 cover, it will be found that after the third has left their 

 sense of danger disappears, as will be seen by their be- 

 ginning to feed with apparent security. I am not aware 

 of this peculiarity being possessed to the same extent by 

 any other bird." 



Another instance of their intelligence was related to 

 us by the observer : " After the hay is carted off a fresh- 

 mown meadow, the rooks assemble in considerable numbers 

 and dig with their beaks small holes all over the field. 

 By the next morning every one of these holes contains a 

 small white slug (Limax agrestis), and as soon as daylight 

 appears down come the rooks, and without any trouble 

 procure their morning meal, very much to their own and 

 the farmer's benefit." 



Rooks feed chiefly on the larvae of numerous insects, 

 worms, slugs, snails. They are particularly fond of the 

 larvae of the cockchafer, crickets, wireworms, daddy long- 

 legs, &c. They are also partial to some kinds of fruit, 

 such as cherries and walnuts before the shell hardens. 

 In Scotland they take the crowberry. In hard winters and 

 in very dry springs the rook becomes omnivorous, and will 

 then take offal of all kinds, and follow the hog-pail or suck 

 an egg, but that in the spring he will search the fields and 

 hedgerows for pheasants' or partridges' eggs requires much 

 better evidence than the assertions of interested game- 



