THE ROOK. 121 



crops. He shoots their young every year as 

 soon as they are able to leave the nest and sit 

 on the branches. Despite all this, the Rook 

 flourishes and thrives, and appears year by year 

 to increase in numbers. 



The good he does to the farmer during the 

 greater part of the year is, I am afraid, forgotten 

 when he digs up and eats potatoes, pulls up the 

 newly-singled turnips, and makes toll on the first 

 ripe grain. Rooks destroy a large number of 

 injurious insects, grubs, &c., and if we for a 

 moment consider the quantity devoured by them 

 and other birds, we can realise the plight we 

 would be in if all insect-eating birds were de- 

 stroyed. It is questionable if we could exist 

 owing to the increase of insect life ; farmers' crops 

 would be eaten up, and there would be a famine 

 in the land. The balance, however, must be 

 fairly adjusted. We are apt to forget this some- 

 times, and only think of what concerns us for 

 the moment. What is it Burns says? 



" If self the wavering balance shake, it's rarely richt adjusted." 



