106 NATURALIST'S 



Aversion against intruders. 



hostilities are at an end; as not one of the whole 

 grove, that a little before treated her so rudely, 

 will now ventnre to molest her." 



" It is also worthy of remark, that as soon as 

 the nests are completed the coeks begin to feed 

 the hens ; who receive their bounty with a fond- 

 ling tremulous voice,. fluttering wings, and all the 

 little blandishments that are expressed by the 

 young while in a helpless state. This affectionate 

 deportment of the males is continued throughout 

 the whole season of incubation. When the tir-r 

 brood are sufficiently fledged, they all leave their 

 nests in the day time, and resort to some distant 

 place in quest of food; but return regularly every 

 evening to their favourite trees, wliere, after 

 flying round several times with, much noise and 

 clamour till they are all assembled, they take up 

 their abode for the night. 



Of the aversion which these animals entertain 

 against intruders some idea iay be formed from 

 the following anecdote: 



In the year 17&3 a pair of rooks, after an un- 

 successful attempt la establish themselves in a 

 rookery at no great distance from the Exchange, 

 at Newcastle, were compelled to abandon the 

 attempt, and take refuge on the spire of that 

 building; and, although constantly interrupted 

 by other rooks, they built their nest on the top 

 of the vane, and reared their young, undisturbed 

 by the noise of the populace below them: the 

 nea and its inhabitants were of course turned 





