BIEDS AND MEN 151 



to stalk one of the dogs when asleep on the lawn. Jack 

 would give him a vicious dig with his beak, but was 

 much too quick to be caught. He then flew to the lawn 

 gate, where he knew he was safe, and from the top of 

 which he would look down upon the dogs with his head 

 aside and a most whimsical expression on his face, chatter- 

 ing all the time. My mother was fond of gardening, and 

 used to plant out most of her seedlings. Jack would 

 perch on her shoulders and watch her; then when the 

 work was done he would pull them all up. The bird was 

 so fascinating that this was tolerated, but he took to going 

 into the house and pulling the paper off the walls, and 

 so much to my sorrow it was decided that Jack must 

 go. He was given to a relative a few miles away, who 

 shut him up in a stable for a few days, but after his 

 release he was never seen again. I fancy he joined his 

 fellows, for once or twice I thought I detected his note ; 

 but if so, he would never come to me. He was an intelli- 

 gent, mischievous, amusing pet. 



EDWAKD COWARD. 



Two MORE TAME BOOKS 



In the spring of 1908 I brought up two young rooks 

 who had been blown out of their nests. When they were 

 able to fly they were always free to come and go as they 

 pleased. Both came every day several times to be fed, 

 and expressed their satisfaction with their food very 

 volubly. In July they followed me to church one Sunday, 

 and on being told they could not come in Tweezer 

 was hurt and appeared no more. Wheezer, however, 

 was faithful, and one day in August, when we were play- 

 ing tennis, a flight of rooks went overhead, and to the 

 astonishment of all he answered my call and settled at my 

 feet. He used to fill his crop as full as possible, and, 1 

 presume, carried some food to his friends. He continued 



