THE ROOK. 123 



Wire-Worm Grubs, Daddy-Long-Legs (Tipula), 

 Carabus Grubs, Miana Grubs, Hyladphasia Grubs, 

 and Turnip Moth Grubs. The ground Beetles 

 (Geodophaga) being of predatory habits, are 

 considered beneficial to agriculture, and when 

 destroying these as is done on a fairly large 

 scale the Rooks must be regarded as acting 

 in opposition to the interests of the farmer. 

 While killing and taking grub, on the other hand, 

 the birds may fairly be looked upon in the light 

 of farmers' friends and benefactors." Against the 

 insects and grubs Sir John squares accounts with 

 the Rook with a long list of grain and potato 

 food which the Rook steals from the fields, and 

 upon which he principally lives. Sir John con- 

 cludes : " Taken altogether, the Rook has almost 

 no claim to agricultural regard ; his thievishness 

 and rogueries look very black, for do we not 

 catch him nineteen times at artificial foods and 

 nine times more at cakes and such like, let alone 

 his destruction of our crops when using them as 

 food, or when hunting in them for his favourite 



