ROOK. 253 



very voluminous and interesting ; regarding its nidification 

 a rhyme runs : 



On the first of March, the Crows begin to search, 



On the first of April, they are sitting still, 



On the first ot May, they're a' flown away ; 



Croupin' greedy, back again, wi' October's wind and rain. 



It is considered to be unlucky to disturb the nests, and 

 in some parts the children believe that if they climbed the 

 Rookery trees to rob the eggs the old birds would peck out 

 their eyes, and if there were young in the nests the whole 

 colony would attack the intruder. In Cleveland the village 

 boys imagine that if they call out 



" Crow, Crow, thy nest's on fire ! " 



It'll burn the steeple, and burn the spire ! " 



any passing birds, on hearing the alarming news, fly home- 

 wards with increased speed ; and in the Craven district, 

 if it is desired to frighten away Rooks in the vicinity, the 

 following couplet is shouted at them : 



" Crow, Crow, get out of my sight, 

 Or else I'll eat thy liver and lights." 



In many districts in North Yorkshire it is a regular custom 

 for country people to put on some new article of wearing 

 apparel on Easter Sunday for fear of offending the " Crows," 

 as is shewn in the following rhyme, written by " Florence 

 Cleveland " : 



" On Easter Sunday 



An' if ya've nowt ta put on new 

 There is a fine ta deea, 

 For t' craws is seear ta finnd it oot, 

 An' soil yer awd cleas mair." 



Another Easter practice was to watch the flight of Rooks 

 carefully. If they settled near home instead of flying far 

 afield to feed, the farmer shook his head, believing that grub 

 and other pests would afflict his crops that year. If a " Crow " 

 settled on a house or outbuildings misfortune was sure to 

 follow, death or sickness in the case of human beings, and 

 disaster to stock and cattle ; if the bird flew round the house 

 and did not settle, any untoward event which happened 



