Winged Vermin Food of the Rook. 443 



more substantial provender, it accidentally comes across a 

 nestful. It is not very likely that it drives off a hen-bird 

 when sitting, nor will it attack one luckily at hand to dis- 

 pute with it. 



Whether poultry are much interfered with depends on 

 various circumstances ; and although our ducklings and 

 chickens may flatter themselves on their immunity from per- 

 secution by this class of winged vermin, a daringly thievish 

 rook will occasionally render itself as dangerous and clever 

 a despoiler of the young poultry as its congener, the crow ; 

 while perverse hens which persist in laying astray may as 

 safely impute the destruction of their hidden hoard to the 

 rook as to any other feathered marauder. 



