i io FEEDING WILD BIRDS IN WINTER. 



any bird shows the inner working of its mind 

 so clearly as the rook. One may learn from its 

 actions the dawning of an idea and the subse- 

 quent working out of the same. 



One of these birds is at this moment weighing 

 pros and cons as to whether it would be safe 

 to join the party at the window. Whilst all 

 are feeding quietly it decides to come, and 

 marches slowly on ; then, when the starlings 

 take one of their sudden flights, the rook stops, 

 looks this way and that, and feels doubtful. How- 

 ever, a second rook joins the waverer, and the two 

 take courage and advance together. One of them 

 stands on a lump of suet and breaks off pieces 

 with its huge beak the rook sharing with other 

 birds the universal love of fat the lump becomes 

 smaller and smaller, and at last the great beak 

 grips it firmly and away flies the rook, closely pur- 

 sued by a crew of sable comrades, who are all 

 eager to share in the spoil which they were not 

 brave enough to secure for themselves. 



I have not spoken of the sparrows ; their name 

 is legion. And how they do eat ! No other bird 

 clears away the food so quickly. The sparrows 



