THE ROOK 149 



the change in the habits of rooks during the ten 

 years prior to 1892 as having 'developed most 

 marked carnivorous habits, taking eggs, young 

 birds, young poultry, young hares and rabbits 

 to an extent they never did before.' In his 

 evidence Mr. Service also stated that : ' By far 

 the most effective among the bird and animal 

 enemies of the voles is the common rook ' ; a 

 fact that should be carefully noted by farmers 

 when weighing the evidence, pro and con, as to 

 the benefit or damage due to the rook from the 

 agriculturists' point of view. 



In this connection a very singular, and one 

 thinks, suggestive fact emerges. Young nestling 

 rooks have, as is well known, their faces feathered 

 down to the base of the bill, as is the case with 

 the carrion crow at all ages ; these feathers being 

 lost in the case of the rook in a couple of months, 

 leaving the part bare. Of late years, however, 

 there are many instances on record of rooks 

 retaining the feathered mask for twelve months 

 or more ; and not only is this the case, but the 

 beak itself shows in these instances a tendency 

 to the more heavily curved type found in the 

 carrion crow. This is a change of outward form 

 as well as of habit ; or, shall we say, a reversion ? 

 The loss of feathers at the base of the beak in 

 the rook has usually been attributed to abrasion 



