ROOK. 243 



watching would prevent or lighten them, 

 for neither the grain nor the root is sought after 

 when vegetation has somewhat advanced, and we 

 consider the destruction of slugs, and the grubs, 

 or larvae of the insects, which feed on the roots 

 of the various grains and grasses, and there- 

 fore affect our crops and pastures, as at least 

 compensating for their destruction or injury to 

 the produce of the fields. In a few districts 

 orders for extirpation have been issued. These, 

 in some instances, have not been followed out, 

 in others their execution has been regretted, but 

 even the addition of the destruction made among 

 the young when they have left the nest, and are 

 termed " branchers," as a matter of sport to some, 

 and as articles of food to others, have been insuffi- 

 cient to check their numbers, for on the whole 

 the species seems to have rather increased, and 

 we know of the growth of several new rookeries 

 without a corresponding falling off of those near 

 them. Except such as are of modern date, the 

 age of the establishments seems nearly coeval 

 with that of the trees on which they rest, and it 

 is very seldom, indeed, that we learn of a com- 

 plete extirpation. Villages and towns have, in 

 many instances, arisen around their colonies, but the 

 inhabitants will only quit their venerable resting 

 place on the removal of the trees themselves, and 

 if left thus unmolested, will continue to assemble 

 at their stated times, and perform tlreir allotted 

 duties, seemingly unconscious of the most crowded 

 and noisy thoroughfares. Both Edinburgh and 



