122 WOODLAND, MOOR, AND STREAM 



the whole fabric swings backwards and forwards as 

 the wind blows. They are not often blown out of the 

 trees, but once I did see this happen, just at the time 

 when the young ones were beginning to call to their 

 parents. A terrible gale cleared the lot from the 

 trees and drove the old birds all over the place. On 

 the following day, when all was very quiet again, they 

 sat about in the trees, looking most dejected, their 

 heads drawn into their shoulders, mere black bunches 

 of misery. 



They are very fond of their young, and pay them 

 the greatest attention. May and June are the months 

 to watch their domestic economy, for the rookery is 

 in full voice and activity then, and father rook is busy 

 digging from morning till night. 



The bare space under the bill and round it is a 

 natural feature of the bird, and not caused by his 

 digging operations as some might suppose. He looks 

 after his mate well when she is sitting, and when the 

 young are lately hatched and she is not yet able to 

 leave them. Then the pouch which is under his bill 

 comes into requisition. He collects all kinds of 

 dainties, beetles, grubs, worms, and other small trifles, 

 until a good-sized pellet is formed, larger than a 

 walnut. This he bears up to her, and perching close 

 to the nest he cackles to her in the most affectionate 



