ROOKS AND THEIR RELATIVES 129 



peering about and cawing, he hopped on to two or 

 three more trees, and then flew away, to return soon 

 with a few more of his companions. These went 

 through the same tactics, until by the time the people 

 had come out from service the whole colony of rooks 

 were in the trees examining their nests of the 

 previous year. The following morning they were 

 busily engaged repairing the old, and building new 

 ones. 



The poor lady grieved much when it was decided 

 that the fine old trees were dangerous to the surround- 

 ing buildings, and the edict went forth that they were 

 to be cut down and young ones planted in their stead, 

 in spite of many remonstrances from the inhabitants 

 of the houses in the square. So one November, when 

 the rooks had gone away with their young, the work 

 was begun. 



The following February, on Sunday morning, the 

 pioneer bird appeared, settled on the ground, gave a 

 disconsolate caw, and flew away ; and no rook was 

 ever seen there again, much to the sorrow of their 

 friend in her lonely sick room. 



The jackdaw is a compact and lively bird ; he 

 aptly proves the truth of the proverb, 'birds of a 

 feather flock together,' for he flies about with the 

 rooks and feeds with them. He is a pleasing bird to 



K 



