THE ROOKERY 



THERE is more human nature in the average rook 

 than in many a dry human stick ; or, at any rate, 

 that is the opinion a close watoher of the rook 

 community is almost bound to carry away. The 

 rookery I have in mind became a scene of active 

 life during the last week of February. One bright 

 morning the tenants returned to inspect their old 

 homes, and the first beginnings were made with 

 the work of hauling out the sodden and rotten 

 parts of the structures to make way for the new. 

 It was observable that at this time the male rook 

 was more advanced in the seasonal amorous frenzy 

 than his mate. He assumed attitudes before her, 

 flirted his wings, fanned his tail, put his head and 

 neck into queer contortions, and made distinct 

 efforts to sing, eyeing her with glances of devotion 

 the while. She observed those attentions with 

 good nature, just tinged with contempt, and when 

 he approached her " sidled " along the bough, 

 saying in the plainest of rook language, " Get 

 along, you giddy old thing ! " 



But soon she came under the influence herself, 

 and scenes of sentimental comedy followed, which 

 are probably unique in bird life. When he atti- 

 tudinized she fluttered her wings in the manner 



