254 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



was attributed to it, but to see a flock fly over was a sign of 

 good luck. To find a dead " Crow " is unlucky. When 

 Rooks congregate on the dead branches of trees it is certain 

 to rain before night, but if they stand on the live boughs the 

 effect is to the contrary (" Notes and Queries," 1880). 



At Norton Conyers near Ripon, the residence of Sir Reginald 

 Graham, there is a curious legend connected with the Rookery, 

 which, tradition says, was in existence 300 years ago. Some 

 Seer or Witch, living near to Skipton Bridge, foretold that 

 when the birds forsook their building-place then sad days and 

 death would visit Norton Conyers. We are told that the 

 year before the rebellion against Queen Elizabeth by the 

 Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland, which Norton 

 (the then owner) and his eight sons joined, and which lost 

 them their heads and estate, the birds fled the Rookery. 

 A like occurrence happened when Sir R. Graham died after 

 Marston Moor ; legend says but few birds built that year, 

 and their cawing was so mournful to listen to, that all knew 

 sad days were looming, and so it was, for, after having 

 received twenty-six wounds, and learning the battle was 

 lost, the Cavalier baronet left the field, reached home that 

 same night, and died an hour afterwards. 



Local names : Crow or Craw are in general use. A common 

 belief is that the Rook, after its first moult, becomes a " Crow " 

 proper, and only a bird of the year can be correctly termed 

 a Rook. Of this idea I had oral proof from the wife of a 

 country gentleman in the North Riding, who remarked, 

 in driving past a Rookery late in the year, " I suppose they 

 will soon be growing into Crows." In the Craven neighbour- 

 hood the young birds before they can fly are called Pearkers, 

 and Branchers is a general term for the fledglings. 



