216 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



of the Rook others will be laid, though but in small 

 numbers, and I have known them sit on a single egg. 

 What is also peculiar, is that we sometimes see eggs and 

 young birds in the nest together, the eggs being often 

 sat upon as soon as laid. 



How assiduously the Rook feeds its sitting mate ! 

 With peculiar cries and trembling wings it receives the 

 supply of food by inserting its own bill in that of its 

 partner, and taking the insects, grubs, and worms, that 

 in a mass lie under its tongue. Notice yonder Rook; 

 fresh from the grass land is he. His mate sees him 

 approaching from afar ; she hops off her charge, and 

 with peculiar tremulous cries and fluttering wings awaits 

 his approach. He feeds her, and after some few marks 

 of affection have passed between them, she cleans her 

 bill on a neighbouring bough, and hops silently on to her 

 precious eggs, while her mate wings his way for a fresh 

 supply. It has been stated that the female bird alone 

 hatches the egg, but this is an error, as I often see the 

 birds change their duties : nevertheless the female bird is 

 oftenest upon them. 



By the second week in April, the young are heard 

 uttering their feeble cries, and then the old birds are 

 taxed to the utmost in supplying them with food. 

 Backwards and forwards, to and from the fields, we see 

 the old Rooks flying the entire day, and keeping up their 

 labours long after sunset. For weeks this goes on, and 

 then we notice the young birds sitting outside the nests 

 and on the branches. I cannot find that the young 

 return to their abode after once quitting it, but remain 

 on the trees until able to fly, being fed there by their 

 parents, just as frequently as when in the nest. The 

 leaves are now rapidly expanding, and partly hide the 

 young from view, who try their wings with little flights 



