VERMIN 197 



harmful in the nesting season ; nor need 

 these two look for any mercy at our 

 hands. 



The rook has taken to evil ways of 

 late years, and is rapidly becoming a 

 habitual criminal in his relations to game. 

 It is true that the guilt rests with in- 

 dividuals and not with the whole race ; 

 but these individual evil-doers are for 

 some reason increasing so rapidly, and 

 are further so impossible to single out 

 for punishment, that the whole com- 

 munity must needs be held responsible 

 for the misdeeds of some of its members. 

 Inquisitive, enterprising, quick to put 

 two and two together, rooks on partridge 

 ground at nesting time are no favourites 

 with the keeper. Let him incautiously 

 leave traces of his visit to a partridge nest, 

 and the rooks will soon be there. Their 

 presence is most felt after a dry spring, 

 when the nests are readily discovered by 

 their keen and curious eyes as they 

 systematically work the hedgerows in 

 pairs. Even when the partridge is 



