THE ROOK. 143 



insects in consequence, the error has been lamented. 

 In a country walk, the utility of these birds may be 

 perceived. As the ploughman proceeds with his labour, 

 he will be followed by rooks ; but the sower will have no 

 such companions. The power they have of discovering 

 the grub of the cockchafer by scent, is very extra- 

 ordinary. A field is described which had all the ap- 

 pearance of having been scorched, as if by a burning- 

 sun in dry, hot weather : the turf peeled from the 

 ground as if it had been cut with a turfing spade ; and 

 it appeared that the roots of the grass had been eaten 

 away by the larvae of the cockchafer, countless num- 

 bers of which were found at various depths in the soil. 

 Though there was no rookery within many miles of the 

 neighbourhood, multitudes of rooks came hither, turned 

 up the earth, and appeared to devour the grubs with 

 great satisfaction. 



Here another fact occurs which is worthy of remem- 

 brance. How often do we err in the conclusions at 

 which we arrive ? We assume that we are right, when 

 this ought first to be determined before we flatter our- 

 selves on the ground of our sagacity. But to select 

 an instance : — some few years ago there were se- 

 veral large elm-trees behind the ecclesiastical courts 

 of Doctors' Commons, in which a number of rooks had 



