126 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



is common in other birds, there is reason to 

 believe that the whole tribe would long ago 

 have ceased to exist. 



The Rook, usually wary and careful, is, when 

 pressed by hunger, most audacious, and will return 

 again and again to a potato field when he gets a 

 taste of the succulent tuber, and unless the "herd" 

 is an early riser, the Rooks will have their morn- 

 ing meal before he is up. If much shot at, they 

 will sometimes steal the potatoes and fly to an 

 adjoining lea and there leisurely devour them. 



I have seen and had acres of newly-singled 

 turnips pulled up in quite a short time by Rooks, 

 who pull the plants to get the Wire-Worm at 

 the root. If the Wire-Worm were there the plant 

 would be destroyed by it, so that the Rook is 

 doing good in removing the worm ; but there 

 is not a worm at every plant, and the Rook does 

 not discriminate, but takes each plant as he 

 goes along, and he can do it very cleverly. In 

 this way he soon does a great amount of damage. 

 The cure then is worse than the disease. The 



