48 ODD HOURS WITH NATURE 



I write about there are twenty -three nests three, 

 however, untenanted and I have been able to 

 count forty-nine birds. There are thus nine birds 

 which are either bachelors, spinsters, widows, or 

 widowers. Probably they are bachelors and 

 widows. The rooks that are shot in springtime 

 by farmers who suspect depredations on their 

 autumn -sown wheat are generally male birds, for 

 after rookery business has got well under way 

 the females go little to the fields. It is likely, 

 therefore, that the rookery contains some widows, 

 and as there are some among the supernumeraries 

 which have been observed to do temporary sitting 

 duty while a cramped mother stretched her legs 

 and wings, the probability is increased. But there 

 are bachelors too. Among most birds a pro- 

 portion of the one-year-olds fight shy of family 

 responsibilities, and rooks are no exception to 

 the rule. The social instinct compels those un- 

 attacheds to join the rookery, and their influence, 

 it is to be feared, is uplifting by no manner of 

 means. 



