1 94 ROOKS. 



cuous, 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, Jackdaw, &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 grey 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 

 hundreds of these birds from a rookery ? 



In former days, there can be no question of public opinion 

 being entirely against them, and that the destruction of Rooks 

 was regular and systematic an inference 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 Crownett 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 

 circumstances, consumed two ounces and a half of bread. 



This certainly would bear strongly against them, was there 

 nothing to be said in mitigation ; but it should be remembered, 

 that the above consumption is founded upon the supposition 

 that Rooks live entirely upon grain, which, so far from being 

 the case, is very much the reverse, for they prefer an insect 

 diet, if not altogether, at least to a great extent. And even 

 with respect to grain, they will not willingly eat it except in a 

 particular state, preferring it when somewhat softened, and 



