20 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



Food. Practically omnivorous and very fond of eggs. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. In holes in ruins, trees, sea cliffs, and other 

 similar situations. 



Materials. Sticks, dry grass, and an endless amount 

 of rubbish ; lined with wool, fur, &c. 



Eggs. Four to six. Pale blue or bluish green, spotted 

 and blotched with dark olive-brown and lavender-grey ; 

 rather variable. 



ROOK (Corvus frugilegus). 



Abundant in all suitable localities ; more local in 

 Scotland. 



Haunts. Well-timbered and cultivated districts. 



Plumage. Black, glossed with purple reflections. At 

 base of bill a white, nude, warty patch. Bill and legs 

 black. Length 19 in. Female, less glossy and slightly 

 smaller. Young, still less glossy, and area round base 

 of beak covered with bristly feathers. 



Language. The well-known and familiar cawing, 

 sometimes sounding like " carr." 



Habits. Eminently gregarious, and always nesting in 

 communities (rookeries). Flight, though powerful, is 

 somewhat laboured. It walks sedately, and is a great 

 delver, and, consequently, is much persecuted. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, snails, worms, grubs, 

 and a little grain. Very fond of noxious wire- 

 worms. 



Nest. March. One brood. 



Site. At the top of some tall tree, several nests being 

 found in one tree. They frequent the same rookery 

 annually. 



Materials. Stout sticks, twigs, turf, and mud plaster, 

 lined with grass, roots, moss, and feathers. Large and 

 compact. 



