THE COMMON ROOK. 



always noticed by the mischief it does to the fruit, 

 by cutting it asunder with its well-constructed 

 mandibles, in order to obtain the kernels. A 

 native of those extensive pine forests in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Rhine, it makes excursions into 

 various parts of Europe in search of change of 

 food ; and, though several instances are recorded 

 of its visits to our island, I know but one mention 

 of its having bred in England. A .pair was 

 brought to me very early in August, and the 

 breast of the female being nearly bare of feathers, 

 as is observable in sitting birds, it is very probable 

 that she had a nest in the neighbourhood. 



Gesner has called the common rook (corvus 

 frugilegus) a corn-eating bird. Linnaeus has some- 

 what lightened this epithet by considering it only 

 as a gatherer of corn ; to neither of which names 

 do I believe it entitled, as it appears to live solely 

 upon grubs, various insects, and worms. It has at 

 times great difficulty to support its life, for in a 

 dry spring or summer most of these are hidden in 

 the earth beyond its reach, except at those uncer- 

 tain periods when the grub of the chaffer is to be 

 found; and in a hot day we see the poor birds 

 perambulating the fields, and wandering by the 

 sides of the highways, seeking for and feeding 

 upon grasshoppers, or any casual nourishment that 

 may be found. At those times, was it not for its 

 breakfast of dewworms, which it catches in the 



