Contents xi 



CHAPTER XIV. 



PAGE 



THE ROOKERY. Building Nests: Young Birds: Rook- Shooting: 

 Stealing Rooks : Antics in the Air : Mode of Flight : White 

 Rooks . .... 213 



CHAPTER XV. 



ROOKS RETURNING TO ROOST. Vast Flocks: Rook Parliament 

 The two Rook Armies and their Routes : Rook Laws, Tradi- 

 tions, and Ancient History : * Throw ' of Timber : Thieving 

 Jackdaws ... .... 228 



CHAPTER XVL 



NOTES ON BIRDS. Nightingales: Chaffinches: Migration: Pack- 

 ing : Intermarriage : Peewits : Crows : Cuckoo's Flight : Golden- 

 crested Wren . . 240 



CHAPTER XVII. 



NOTES ON THE YEAR. The Two Natural Eras: Spiders: The 

 Seasons represented together : A Murderous Wasp : Feng-shui. 

 The Birds' White Elephant : Hedge-Memoranda , . .255 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



SNAKE-LORE. Snakes swallowing Frogs : Swimming : Fond of 

 Milk : Trapping Snakes : Frogs climbing : Toads in Trees. 

 THE BEOOK. The Hatch : Kiugfifchera' Haunts and Nests . 271 



CHAPTER XIX. 



COURSE OP THE BEOOK. The Birds' Bathing-place: Roach: 

 Jacks on their Journeys : Stickleback's Nest : Woodcock. THE 

 LAKE. Herons : Mussels : Reign of Terror in the Lake . . 287 



