THE LOST FALCON 161 



Next day we again waded through the snow-drifts to 

 the crest of the Downs. Close to the ancient " Ridge 

 Way" stood a group of corn-ricks, and round these 

 were gathered all the birds of the neighbourhood. 

 Hundreds of rooks were on the snow round the stacks, 

 or flying to and from the ricks. They were attacking 

 the stores of grain, resolute to make the most of the 

 only food available. A great number were clinging to 

 the sides of the rick like martins under the eaves, and 

 while some dragged out the straws (apparently quite 

 aware that the ear would be at the other end), others 

 shelled out the grain where they were. They had 

 already made hollows a yard deep into the stack, and 

 every minute made the work easier. The snow for a 

 hundred yards around was littered with the stolen 

 straws. But other and wiser rooks were " working the 

 claim " in a more thorough fashion. They had quarried 

 through the thatch deep into the stack, and were 

 crowding into the hole in a black and busy throng, the 

 place of those departing being at once filled, with much 

 cawing and noise, by others who were waiting en queue 

 all along the ridge of the thatch. " Then there came 

 another locust, which carried off another grain of corn," 

 was the burden of the Eastern story that was to last 

 for ever. But judging by the hole already made in 

 the stack, if for " locust " we had read " rook," the 

 story would not have been long in coming to an end. 

 Presently we approached so near, that the rooks rose 

 reluctantly and flew off a few score yards on to the 



snow. Alarmed at the bustle, a covey of partridges 



M 



