128 BIRDS. 



dislike to the Rooks, believing that they do more harm to crops 

 than good, by eating so much grain and potatoes." 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue tells us that, in March 1878, there 

 were about thirty Eooks' nests at Muddiesdale, where they first 

 nested in 1876, and that, in 1883, there was then a colony at 

 Tankerness. 



There is generally a flock of between forty and fifty Rooks 

 to be seen at Skaill during the spring, Mr. Watt informs us, 

 but they remain there only for a few days. 



In Sanday the Rook is yet a rare bird. Mr. Harvey writes 

 us from there that he shot one on Jan. 27th, 1888, as it was 

 feeding on the side of a corn-stack in a heavy snow-storm. 



We have seen most of the rookeries on the Mainland ; as 

 yet they have not spread to Rousay. 



Corvus corax, L. Raven. 

 Ore. = Corbie. Kroot. 



From all accounts, much scarcer than formerly. 



In vol. i. of the old Statistical Account, dating 1791, a price 

 was set on the heads of Ravens and other vermin. 



Low mentions that two or three white varieties of this bird 

 have been found. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says that, about 1873, he used to see a 

 flock of about a dozen or so frequently at Swanbister, but that 

 now [1887] he seldom sees even a pair. Mr. Watt says that he 

 does not often see them at Skaill, but that they breed in the 

 rocks between there and the Black Craig. 



Mr. Ranken has counted nine sitting together on the sea- 

 beach at Eday. 



In Rousay Ravens bred [1883] in two places, but the young 

 were not allowed to fly, the keeper going down into the rocks 

 to a place where he could shoot them, the nests being inacces- 

 sible. We saw a good many there in the autumn as they came 

 to feed on a dead cow on the beach below the house. 



In Sanday they are seen only occasionally, and not at the 

 breeding season. 



