THE ROOK. 121 



only the magpie, but also the jackdaw and starling, busily 

 engaged in searching for insects on the back of a sheep. 



As in the case of the jackdaw, the magpie is sometimes 

 called by the latter half of his name : 



" And chattering pies in dismal discords sung." 



Henry VI. Part III. Act v. Sc. 6. 



Before taking leave of the crow family, we have yet to 

 notice another bird mentioned by Shakespeare, which is 

 nearly related to the crow. This is the Rook (Corvus 

 frugilcgus). But, notwithstanding the usefulness of the 

 bird, the poet has not said much in its favour. It is 

 noticed in the song in Loves Labours Lost, and is in- 

 cluded amongst the birds of omen in the quotation lately 

 given from Macbeth. 



In the Merry Wives of Windsor, Act i. Sc. 3, we find 

 the expression " bully-rook," and it would seem that this 

 epithet in Shakespeare's time bore much the same sig- 

 nification as "jolly-dog" does now-a-days. But it came 

 subsequently to have a more offensive meaning, and was 

 applied to a cheat and a sharper. 



We had well-nigh forgotten the Jay (Corvus glandarius), 



Winter s Tale (Act iv. Sc. 3), and only allude to it 



now to show that Shakespeare has not omitted it from 



his long list of birds. In Cymbeline, the name is applied 



to a gaudily-dressed person : 



" Some jay of Italy hath betray'd him." 



Cymbeline, Act iii. Sc. 4. 

 R 



