266 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



rows, or avenues, thus giving the rook facilities for 

 placing a number of nests in close neighbourhood. 

 The height of the elm affords greater safety, and the 

 branches are perhaps better suited for their purpose. 



After building in an elm for many years perhaps 

 ever since the owner can remember rooks will sud- 

 denly desert it. There are the old nests still ; but no 

 effort is made to repair them, and no new ones are 

 made. The winds and storms presently loosen the 

 framework, about which no care is now taken, and 

 portions are blown down. Then by-and-by the dis- 

 covery is made that the tree is rapidly dying. The 

 leaves do not appear, or if they do they wither and 

 turn yellow before Midsummer : gradually the branches 

 decay and fall of their own weight or before the wind. 



No doubt if any one had carefully examined the 

 tree he would have observed signs of decay long before 

 the rooks abandoned it ; but those who pass the 

 same trees day after day for years do not observe 

 minute changes, or, if they do, as Nature is slow in 

 her movements, get so accustomed to the sight of the 

 fungi about the base, and the opening in the bark where 

 the decomposing touchwood shows, as to think that 

 it will always be so. At last the rooks desert it, and 

 then the truth is apparent. 



Their nests, being heavy, are not safe on branches 

 up which the strengthening sap no longer rises ; and 

 in addition to the nest there is the weight of the 

 sitting bird, and often that of the other who perches 

 temporarily on the edge. As the branches die they 



