ROOKS AND THEIR RELATIVES 121 



in all directions , each lot of rooks going to the same 

 line of country that they had been in the habit of 

 frequenting during the previous breeding season, and 

 all returning to the grand old roosting-spot at night. 

 I watch their movements morning and evening with 

 great interest. Directly it is light they are high up 

 in the air, looking no larger than blackbirds. As 

 they come over their famous breeding-place in the 

 old lime avenue of the park, they fly round and 

 round in circles, cawing loudly. Then they commence 

 a series of tumbling and darting movements of the 

 most curious and rapid nature. Those who have not 

 seen it would not think them capable of so great a 

 command of wing. After these gyrations they look 

 at their old nests and then fly off to feed ; and some 

 break off from the main body and visit the elms that 

 have not been blown down at the Court Lodge farm. 

 Others go to some elms in one of the hedgerows 

 where a small colony has started a nesting-place. 

 After a heavy gale of wind they are sure to be seen 

 very closely inspecting the nests, directly it is over. 

 It is wonderful how long these will last, and what 

 hurricanes they will bear the brunt of without being 

 seriously damaged. Constructed in the first instance 

 of green and pliant twigs, they are laced into the 

 pliant forked and topmost branches of the trees, and 



