162 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



are protected. Small mice and frogs are luxuries 

 to most of the larger birds, pigeons excepted, 

 for these may be called vegetarians. You may 

 see these in the fields when the corn has been 

 carried. In regard to rooks, they are still 

 credited by some with mischief. " Look at 

 'em ; there they be, stockin' away ; I reckins 

 as I'll hev to run down an' holler 'em off agin ; 

 they're up to summut." 



This is what the young rook-scarer tells us. 

 The black diggers are certainly up to some- 

 thing, for a lot of mice have their nests in the 

 fields, and the rooks are making very minute 

 observations of those dead leaves and withered 

 grass structures. The frogs also come in for a 

 share of their attentions. 



I have watched rooks on the feed for years, 

 at all times and in all weathers, and I know 

 small deer are highly appreciated by them. 

 Walk along any upland pasture path or track, 

 and look down on the stubble fields below 

 with your glasses, and you will see something. 

 There they are, a great company of them, dis- 

 tributed over a couple of fields ; all busy, all 

 on the hunt, excepting the black watchers 

 who are posted for the good of their com- 

 munity, perched on the tree-tops, or on the 



