BIRDS IN CORNISH VILLAGE 273 



mate, who instantly knew what this action meant 

 and began fluttering her wings and crying for 

 the dainty morsel which he proceeded to deliver 

 into her wide-open mouth. Having fed her, he 

 flew back to the same spot and began working 

 again. 



This is a common action of the rooks, and I 

 saw this same bird feed his mate on other occa- 

 sions during the winter months, when I have no 

 doubt that he, poor wretch, could hardly find food 

 enough to keep himself alive during the dark 

 season of everlasting wind and rain when the dim 

 daylight lasted for about six hours. But I never 

 saw a daw or starling feed his mate, or feed 

 another daw or starling, although I watched 

 closely every day and often for an hour at a 

 stretch, and though I am convinced that the 

 starling, like the rook and crow and daw, and 

 in fact all the Corvidae, pairs for life. To this 

 point I will return presently; let me first relate 

 another incident about our frivolous and irrespon- 

 sible young cow. 



One morning when the cows were in the field, 

 some herring-gulls drifted by and a few of them 

 remained circling about above the field. I threw 



