ROOKS. 193 



rather stronger, and is never without the bristly feathers that 

 cover the base and the nostrils, as is the case with the Rook, 

 whose beak, when of full growth, is easily distinguished by the 

 naked and scurfy white skin at its base and on the skin, pro- 

 duced, as some naturalists assert, by the bristles being nibbed 

 off, owing to its constantly thrusting its bill deep into the soil, 

 in search of worms and insects. We feel, however, much in- 

 clined to doubt this, and would rather attribute this nakedness 

 in the base of the bill to an original and natural peculiarity. 

 It has been well argued, in favour of the former opinion, that a 

 specimen was killed whose beak was much longer than usual, 

 and the extremities of which were not only much curved, but 

 actually crossed, like a Crossbill's, and that the base of the 

 beak of this bird, from an impossibility of its being thrust into 

 the ground, was clothed with a full plumage of bristles, and not 

 bare like those of other Rooks. On the other hand, it has been 

 urged, that if these bristles were worn down by being thrust 

 into the ground, they would be renewed like other feathers, at 

 the regular mouiting-time ; and, further, as all new feathers 

 are full of blood at the roots, any application tending to grind 

 them down would be so painful to the Rook, that it would 

 be very unwilling, if indeed able, to thrust its beak into the 

 ground; and again, which we consider as a still stronger 

 argument, it may be asked, if the Rook's bristles are destroyed 

 by this process, how comes it that the Jackdaw, Jay, and 

 Magpie, and some other birds, retain them, though as constantly 

 thrusting their beaks into the ground, in search of worms, as 

 the Rooks ? 



When viewed together, a further distinction will be seen 

 between the Rook and the common Crow, in the glossy colours 

 of their plumage ; that of the Rook being more inclined to a 

 rich purple, whereas that of the Crow is of a greenish blue. 

 There is one other supposed distinctive mark which we shall 

 mention, merely because we believe it does not exist, namely, 

 that the Rook has a pouch under its chin, in which it can 

 carry a full supply of food for its young. 



It is perfectly true that Rooks appear to have such an 

 appendage, which, in the spring- time, is particularly conspi- 



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