THE ROOK. 131 



his powerful bill he very quickly digs out worms 

 or potatoes that are near the surface. In dry 

 weather, when their natural food is scarce, the 

 birds devour eggs, and once they get a taste of 

 egg, they will hunt and quarter the ground in 

 search of more, like well-trained pointers hunting 

 for game. They will also take young birds and 

 chickens, pick out the eyes of disabled rabbits, 

 and in general are not very particular what 

 they eat. 



They begin to build their nests in March, 

 hence the saying "The first o' March the Craws 

 begin to search" (for sticks to build their nests). 

 The young are, as a rule, "branchers" by the 

 middle of May, the Queen's Birthday being a 

 favourite day for the sport (?) of "Craw" shoot- 

 ing. The young are cooked only the breasts 

 being taken made into pies ; but to me they 

 always taste bitter, and are not at all a likeable 

 dish. 



The usual cry of the Rook is "Caw, caw"; 

 sometimes it is harder, as " era," and when one 



