xvi LETTERS TO MARCO 105 



ling secure a rather large piece of food and 

 be making off with it, a rook will immediately 

 dash down and charge the bird, generally 

 causing it to drop the prize ; the rook does 

 not, however, seize it at once, but after one or 

 two little circular movements alights near, 

 , walks up, and carries it off in triumph. The 

 rook is a very light bird for the size of his 

 wings, which are more adapted for long 

 flights than manoeuvring in close quarters. 

 He is always a little awkward at alighting on 

 a branch or the ground ; on the former he 

 executes several quaint movements with tail 

 and wings before he secures his balance, and 

 in approaching the latter he is very like a 

 small sailing-boat picking up its moorings, 

 having to check his way by a circular sort of 

 hover first, his feet hanging down all the 

 while in a curious way. 



I hear the owls at night now, but am 

 utterly at a loss to account for the food they 

 find. The moor-hens come up on the lawn 

 and even partake of the dole sometimes ; they 



