272 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



irons used to be sometimes employed for the purpose. 

 As elm trees are so conspicuous, these thieving 

 practices cannot well be carried on while it is light. 

 So the rook-poachers go up the trees in the dead of 

 night ; and as the old rooks would make a tremen- 

 dous noise and so attract attention, they carry a lan- 

 tern with them, the light from which silences the 

 birds. So long as they can see a light they will not 

 caw. 



The time selected to rob a rookery is generally just 

 before the date fixed for the shooting, because the 

 young birds are of little use for cooking till ready to 

 fly. The trick, it is believed, has often been played, 

 for the mere pleasure of spiting the owner, the very 

 night previous to the rook-shooting party being chosen. 

 These robberies of young rooks are much less frequent 

 than they used to be. One reason why those who 

 possess any property in the country do not like to 

 see a labouring man with a gun is because he will 

 shoot an old rook (and often eat it), if he gets the 

 opportunity, without reference to times or seasons, 

 whether they are building or not. 



The young rooks that escape being shot seem to 

 be fed, or partly fed, by the old birds for some time 

 after they can fly well and follow their parents. It 

 is easy to know when there are young rooks in a flock 

 feeding in a field. At the first glance the rooks look 

 scattered about, without any order, each independent 

 of the other. But in a few minutes it will be noticed 

 that here and there are groups of three, which keep 



