TRAINING OF YOUNG BIRDS. 223 



young;, for a few evenings after their flight, will return 

 to their parents, and roost where they were bred ; 

 but they soon quit their abode, and remain absent 

 the whole summer months *." Now we think this 

 is putting the matter in its true light ; for the rooks 

 are here represented under very different circum- 

 stances from the swallows and sparrows, whose sup- 

 posed training we have above endeavoured to ex- 

 plain, their prey not being usually at hand, but in 

 some distant field. To continue therefore to supply 

 their young as they had done while unable to quit 

 the nest, would be in many cases impossible, for their 

 immediate vicinity is for the most part exhausted, 

 and the increasing dryness of the season renders it 

 more difficult to obtain worms, slugs, and the grubs 

 of chafers. This is not a mere hypothetical view, 

 but is proved by facts. " In the hot summer of 1825, 

 many of the young brood of rooks of the season 

 perished for want ; the mornings were without dew, 

 and consequently few or no worms were to be ob- 

 tained; and we found them dead under the trees, 

 having expired on their roostings. It was particu- 

 larly distressing, for no relief could be given, to hear 

 the constant clamour and importunity of the young 

 for food. The old birds seemed to suffer without 

 complaint ; but the wants of their offspring were ex- 

 pressed by the unceasing cry of hunger, and pursuit of 

 their parents for supply, and our fields were scenes 

 of daily restlessness and lament. Yet, amid all this 

 distress, it was pleasing to observe the perseverance 

 of the old birds in the endeavour to relieve their 

 famishing families, as many of them remained out 

 searching for food quite in the dusk, and returned 

 to their roosts long after the usual period for re- 

 tiringt-" 



* Journal of a Naturalist, p. 181. 

 f Journal of a Naturalist, p. 178, 3d edit. 



