THE ROOK. 103 



Rookeries, &c. 



that one year, while his men were hoeing a field 

 of turnips, a great number of rooks alighted in a 

 part of it where they were not at work. The 

 consequence was a remarkably fine crop in this 

 part, while in the other parts of the field there 

 were scarcely any turnips that year. 



Rooks are gregarious, and are sometimes seen 

 in such immense flocks, that they almost darken 

 the air in their flight. They build in woods, 

 in the neighbourhood of man, and sometimes 

 make choice of groves, in the very midst of 

 cities, for the place of their retreat and secu- 

 rity. In these they establish a kind of legal con- 

 stitution, by which all intruders are excluded 

 from coming to live among them, and none are 

 suffered to build but acknowledged natives of 

 the place. " I have often, " says a celebrated 

 author, " amused myself with observing their 

 plan of policy from my window that looks upon 

 a grove, where they have made a colony in the 

 midst of the city. At the commencement of 

 spring, the rookery, which, during the continu- 

 ance of winter, seemed to have been deserted, or 

 only guarded by about five or six, like old sol- 

 diers in a garrison, now begins to be once more 

 frequented, and in a short time all the bustle and 

 hurry of business is fairly commenced. Where 

 these numbers resided during the winter is not 

 easy to guess; perhaps in the trees of hedge- 

 rows, to be nearer their food. In spring, how- 

 ever, they return to their native trees, and, in 



