196 ROOKS. 



When viewed together, a further distinction will be seen 

 between the Rook and the common Crow, in the glossy 

 colours of their plumage ; that of the Rook being more 

 inclined to a rich purple, whereas that of the Crow is of a 

 greenish blue. There is one other supposed distinctive mark, 

 which we shall mention, merely because we believe it does 

 not exist, namely, that the Rook has a pouch under its chin, 

 in which it can carry a full supply of food for its young. 



It is perfectly true that Rooks appear to have such an 

 appendage, which, in the Spring-time, is particularly con- 

 spicuous, when faiey may be seen flying with a swelling under 

 the throat, of the size of a Pigeon's egg; but closer ob- 

 servers have discovered that in the Crow, Jackdaw, &c., there 

 is the same elasticity and pliability of the skin, and that 

 they not only can, but do often take in a provision of food, 

 which swells the upper part of the throat out to a consider- 

 able size; though, owing to the grey colour of the Rook's 

 chin, this swelling is more apparent. 



We now come to a more important question respecting 

 Rooks, in the settlement of which the world is much 

 divided. Are they beneficial or injurious to man? Is 

 the farmer a gainer or a loser, by being subjected to the 

 daily visits of two or three hundreds of these birds from a 

 rookery ? 



In former days, there can be no question of public 

 opinion being entirely against them, and that the destruc- 

 , tion of Rooks was regular and systematic, an inference 

 which may be fairly drawn from the following entry amongst 

 certain presentments concerning the parish of Alderley, in 

 Cheshire, in 1598, being the fortieth year of Queen Eliza- 

 beth's reign : " We find that there is no Crownett in the 

 parish, a payne that one be bought by the charge of the 

 parish." 



As in most cases, so in this, we are inclined to think that 

 a great deal may be said on both sides ; for, as the Rook 

 cannot be altogether acquitted of the charge of doing some 

 harm, so neither is he to be found guilty of doing nothing 

 but mischief. We will examine, first, the unfavourable side. 



