THE ROOK. 



THE Rook is another bird loving the society of man, 

 and partly dependent upon his labours. And yet he is 

 a bird very particular as to the choice of a home, for 

 he will shun certain localities seemingly suitable for his 

 colony, and take up his abode in others and remain there 

 for centuries, even though man builds his crowded cities 

 around him. Wherever the old country mansion rears 

 its stately walls amongst the trees, there, too, we almost 

 invariably find a colony of Rooks. In the neighbour- 

 hood of the old abbey or castle, now nought but a heap 

 of ivied ruins and souvenirs of bygone ages, we often 

 see their nests in masses on the topmost branches of the 

 neighbouring trees ; and these very nests, without doubt, 

 belong to the descendants of the birds who cawed over 

 the towers and battlements when in the height of their 

 regal splendour centuries ago. 



The Rook lives in colonies, and by his social and 

 trustful disposition we are enabled to study his habits 



