ROOK. 59 



so common as it used to be, even within my own recollection 

 and no wonder ; for he is a strong, fierce bird (Mr. Waterton 

 calls him his " Warrior bird"), and a young and weakly lamb, a 

 young Hare or Rabbit, a wounded or frightened Partridge has little 

 or no cbance with him. 1 knew a case a year or two since of a 

 Crow attacking a Partridge and driving it to cover in a hedge ; 

 where it lay so terrified and exhausted as to suffer itself to be 

 picked up by a spectator. I knew another instance years ago in 

 which the Crow attacked a young Rabbit. The old doe came to 

 the assistance of her young one, and the battle was well con- 

 tested, but the Crow was the victor, and carried off the spoil. 

 Paired once, these birds, as in the case of the Raven, are paired 

 for good. The nest is placed in a main fork of a large tree, and is 

 made of sticks and twigs with abundant cushioning of wool and 

 hair. It is believed not to build a new nest every year. It lays 

 four or five eggs, varying much in the depth of the tint of the 

 greenish ground-colour, and generally well mottled and blotched 

 and spotted with greenish ash colour and bright brown. The 

 parents seem to expel their young from the immediate precints 

 of their own abode very soon after they are able to provide for 

 themselves ; as is the case with the Raven also. Fig. 4, plate V 



119. HOODED CROW (Coma comix). 

 Royston Crow, Dun Crow, Norway Crow, Kentish Crow, 

 Grey Crow, Grey-backed Crow, Bunting Crow, Scare Crow, 

 Hoodie. Even a fiercer and more mischievous bird than the 

 Carrion Crow. It has been very seldom known to breed in 

 England, though coming in great abundance from its more 

 northern haunts before the access of winter. In north and west 

 Scotland, the Hebrides and Orkneys it breeds in large numbers, 

 and rewards for its destruction have been customarily paid to 

 within a recent period, if indeed they have altogether ceased yet. 

 They place their nests among rocks, in the rifts or on ledges. 

 These are built of ling, sticks, roots, stalks of plants, seaweed ; 

 and lined with wool and hair. There are usually four or five 

 eggs, not differing very materially in colouring from those of the 

 Common Crow. Fig. 5, plate V. 



120. ROOK (Corvusfrugilegus}. 



Crow. Everyone must be acquainted with the Rook, and its 

 nesting manners and habits. Even the dwellers in great cities 

 have sometimes had this bird domiciled among them for the 

 breeding season, and many places in London are signalized by the 

 presence of a Rook's nest, or several, in very unlikely situations. 

 In the country some of ihe most familiar sights and sounds are 

 those afforded by the Rookery, or by the huge assemblages of 



