April 



another close to the ground, and that the front one, 

 being all but driven to earth, had caught its bill in 

 the ground just at the moment when the rear bird 

 dropped upon it, causing the head and neck of the 

 bird beneath to be doubled in sharply under the 

 breast. 



Whilst approaching, later in the day, the spot 

 where the dead rook lay, I observed a live one going 

 through some unusual antics, and stopped, glass in 

 hand, to watch it. As I suspected, it was occupied 

 with the dead bird. Marching round and round, 

 the living one stopped from time to time to stretch 

 its neck down and caw to its silent comrade. It 

 appeared to have an idea that the latter might be 

 foxing, or might suddenly spring up ; for, in its 

 circuiting, it frequently started aside, as if about to 

 fly off. However, in the end it gathered more 

 confidence, and making a sudden dash, laid hold of 

 the slack wing, alid giving it a vigorous tug, backed 

 off again as rapidly. When it had tried several 

 times thus to arouse the dead rook, but without the 

 desired, or rather, dreaded result, it resorted to 

 stronger measures. Hopping up and on to the 

 prostrate form, it alighted with sufficient weight 

 to insure a speedy spring-off on the farther side, 

 where it turned immediately to observe the effect of 

 the shock. Certain conclusions seemed to emerge 

 clearly enough from the bird's conduct. It recog- 

 nized the unnatural posture of the dead rook, and 

 showed, by continuing to skirt it, that it feared a 



129 K 



