102 CORVID^. 



was the Ladybird. He was quite astonished when I in- 

 formed him that the Aphides constitute the regular and 

 sole food of the Ladybird, which seeks them out and de- 

 vours them continually ; and that he had been promoting 

 the breed of a pernicious insect by destroying another race 

 which God had appointed to keep them down." 



The Rook inhabits wooded and cultivated districts. As 

 early in the year as the month of February these birds are 

 seen to visit their nests of the preceding year, which are 

 usually placed thickly together in the tops of tall trees, 

 sometimes to the number of seven or eight nests on the 

 same tree, and generally selecting such trees as have been 

 planted to form avenues, or otherwise ornamental as timber, 

 and in the vicinity of inhabited mansions, or other build- 

 ings. In March, and usually about the second week of that 

 month, the Rooks begin to repair the nests for their use, 

 and some new nests are built by the young birds of the pre- 

 vious year. These are formed of twigs, and lined with grass 

 and fibrous roots. While the nests are in progress, con- 

 siderable clamour prevails at times among the birds, which 

 appears to arise from attempts made to rob one another of 

 the materials employed in building; and it is observed 

 that while a nest is in progress, one of the feathered pro- 

 prietors remains near it to guard it against intruders, and 

 its mate fetches whatever may be next wanted to proceed 

 with ; it has also been repeatedly noticed, that if a pair of 

 Rooks attempt to build their nest in a tree that was pre- 

 viously unoccupied by a nest, and at a distance from the 

 main body, the other Rooks invariably destroy the nest. 

 The reason for this is not very obvious, unless intended as 

 a punishment to the separatists for their want of sociability. 

 The Rook lays four or five eggs, of a pale greenish ground 

 colour, blotched over with dark greenish brown ; the length 

 one inch eight lines, by one inch two lines in breadth. 



