i8o THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



fortnight ; truly, a well-nigh appalling loss for any 

 keeper, and one, by the way, representing, in mere 

 money value alone, some such sum as 2$, at least. 



East wind and scorching sun in April and May often 

 bind up the ground with a grip as of iron. Then the 

 rook's bill, formidable instrument though it be, cannot 

 penetrate the hard-crusted earth in search of grub, worm, 

 or beetle, and the bird must perforce turn to other things 

 for sustenance. At such times his egg-stealing propensity 

 is much in evidence, and clever indeed will be the 

 keeper who can then prevent loss in this way. One has 

 but to observe the tactics of the old rooks, as they 

 systematically search the fields and fences for nests, in 

 order to realize that these creatures are most arrant egg 

 thieves. The eggshells of grouse, pheasant, partridge, 

 wild-duck, and plover may be picked up by the score on 

 some estates, all having had their contents extracted by 

 rooks. In fact, the damage that can be inflicted by a 

 large colony of rooks is most extensive in character, and 

 must be seen to be fully appreciated. 



And yet how few take rook-shooting, duty to the 

 community as it undoubtedly is, at all seriously, or set 

 about it in thoroughly earnest manner. Too often from 

 sheer neglect or positive carelessness the number of 

 young rooks permitted to go at large upon an estate is 

 greatly in excess of all requirements or proper limits. 

 Two of the chief reasons for this probably are assignable 

 to a lack of energy in ascertaining or of fixing upon 

 the exact date or dates upon which shooting should take 

 place, or to the introduction of too much of the fun 

 element and of too many indifferent shots in the 

 proceedings. With regard to the first-named cause, those 

 experienced in the life-history of the rook are aware that 



