41 HOOK. 



Iiooks build their nests for the most part in the vicinity 

 of old mansions or other buildings; chiefly, as I imagine, on 

 account of ancient and full-grown trees being the accompani- 

 ments of these; but they by no means make exclusive choice 

 of such situations; I have seen their nests in perfectly isolated 

 places, and they have been known, in several instances, to 

 build on trees of low growth; as for example on young oaks, 

 only ten or twelve feet high, in the grounds of the Duke of 

 Buccleueh, at Dalkeith Palace, although large trees were all 

 around them. They have occasionally been known to domicile 

 even in the midst of cities, and that not only on trees, but 

 in other and the most unlikely places. Three pairs built on 

 some low poplars, in a central part of the town of Manchester, 

 and returned to them the following year: another pair on the 

 crown which surmounts the vane of St. Olave's church, London ; 

 and another between the wings of the dragon on Bow church, 

 and there they remained, clearly 'within the sound of Bow 

 bells,' till the spire required to be repaired; others in the 

 gardens of noblemen in Curzon Street, and others in those 

 of Gray's Inn, as I am informed by W. F. Wratishuv Bird, 

 Esq., who says of them, 'We have a colony of Books in 

 Gray's Inn gardens, which are so tame, that they come regu- 

 larly to the trees in front of my chambers, and those of other 

 inhabitants who encourage them, to be fed. In winter some- 

 times they are so eager for food, that they scramble for it 

 on the ground the moment it is thrown down, like poultry. 

 It is a curious and pleasing sight to see twenty or thirty 

 birds, usually so wild and wary, struggling and tumbling over 

 one another under your window, for pieces of bread, which 

 they sometimes catch before it reaches the ground: they soon 

 make away with half a loaf. A magnificent plane tree, said 

 to have been planted by Addison, and named after him, is a 

 favourite nesting-place for them. In summer, we have not 

 above eight or nine couples, but in winter the number is 

 doubled: they do not, however, appear to increase; the surplus 

 population emigrate probably to Kensington Gardens: they 

 may be seen there, and in the Parks, almost as familiar as 

 Sparrows. The well-known nest in the tree in Cheapside, 

 has been inhabited many times since 1830, when Mr. Yarrell 

 says it was deserted; and t\vo years ago, there were two nests, 

 each tenanted by its pair of owners, who might be seen feeding 

 their young in cawing pride,' by all the busy passers in that 

 most crowded of thoroughfares.' 



