THE ROOK. 127 



fact is, we in this district suffer from too much 

 " Rook." I believe that on some large estates, such 

 as Abercairny, they try to reduce the number of 

 Rooks by kindling fires below the trees of the 

 rookeries when the birds are sitting on eggs, and 

 by firing guns and keeping the fires burning all 

 night so alarm the Rooks that by the time they 

 return the eggs are addled. Whether this mode 

 of reduction is effective or not I do not know, 

 but of late years there has been no diminution 

 of numbers. 



To all appearance the Rook is as black as the 

 " Craw," but in early spring examine him closely 

 and you will be surprised at his gorgeous 

 plumage of a deep blue black, with purple, 

 violet, and green reflections shining like bur- 

 nished steel, which is ever flashing and changing 

 in the sunshine, As he walks (for he does 

 not hop like some other birds) in the bright 

 sunlight, he, by his dress, might pass for a 

 gentleman, only we know him to be a 

 polished rogue. " Rooks," says Leigh Hunt, 



