THE ROOK. l6 9 



Family COR VID/E. 



THE ROOK. 



Corvus frugi/egus, LINN. 



IN Western Europe the Rook breeds as far to the north as the Arctic circle, but 

 not so far in the East. It is also found in the summer throughout Central 

 and Southern Europe, being resident in the more southern portion of its range, 

 but migratory in the more northern countries, whence at the approach of winter 

 it retires to Southern Europe, North-east Africa, the Mediterranean islands, and 

 Asia Minor. Eastwards it breeds in Western Siberia and Turkestan, wintering 

 in North Persia, Afghanistan, Cashmere, and N. W. India. 



In England, Wales, and Ireland the Rook is pretty generally distributed in 

 all suitable localities ; in Scotland though rarer and more local, it is rapidly 

 increasing, occasionally wandering to the Outer Hebrides and now breeding as 

 far north as the Orkneys and Shetlands. 



The male Rook is black glossed with purple, most brightly on the upper 

 parts. From the base of the bill is a bare grey warty patch, extending over the 

 chin and upper part of the throat. Bill and feet black ; iris brown. The female 

 is slightly smaller and less glossy than the male. The young bird is still less 

 glossy and has the base of the bill covered, as in the Carrion-Crow, with 

 bristly feathers ; it may be distinguished by its more slender bill and the deep flesh- 

 colour of the inside of the mouth, this however changes to slate-colour with age. 



In England the Rook is a useful bird so long as it can obtain a sufficient 

 quantity of insects and their larvae to support it and its offspring; but when, 

 owing to protracted drought it cannot obtain these, it becomes somewhat 

 mischievous after the fashion of its congeners. In Scotland, where pastures are 

 somewhat limited, it is dreaded and. detested almost as much as the Carrion-Crow. 

 It is certain that when pressed by hunger it will sacrifice weak birds to satisfy 

 its craving for food ; for, as noted in my ' Handbook ' I have on several 

 occasions witnessed this predatory habit in severe wintry weather. 



The Rook is essentially a gregarious bird and haunts well-cultivated districts, 

 preferably where tall trees are numerous and pastures are large ; here he may be 

 seen day after day busily feeding on snails or digging for worms, leather-jackets 



VOL. n. 2 E 



