THE EOOK. 141 



an opposite direction to that from which peril is anti- 

 cipated. 



The rook has some qualities worthy of imitation by 

 creatures of a far higher order — the readers of this 

 volume : it is very regular in its daily movements, and 

 loves cordial intercourse with its kind. Other birds 

 associate together only for a time : thus water-fowl, ring- 

 doves, and finches, will unite in great numbers when 

 winter spreads its coldness and desolation around ; but, 

 on the return of spring, they separate, and return in 

 pairs. But the rook is no hermit, delighted only when 

 afar from its species : in flocks, it builds its nest, pur- 

 sues its food, and retires to rest. 



The sympathy of these birds with others, when suffer- 

 ing, surpasses that of birds in general. Thus a large 

 colony of rooks subsisted many years on the banks of 

 the river Irwell, near Manchester. One serene even- 

 ing, a gentleman placed himself within view of it, and 

 marked with attention the various labours, evolutions, 

 and pastimes of this crowded society. The idle mem- 

 bers amused themselves with chasing each other, and in 

 their flight they made a variety of discordant noises. 

 In the midst of their playful exertions, one rook, by a 

 sudden turn, unfortunately struck his beak against the 

 wing of another, and the sufferer instantly fell into the 



