THE ROOK. 179 



Lewis Gordon, who made plundering excursions into Morayshire 

 from the Castle of Rothes, is referred to as the second ' worst 

 thing ' in the county. It is now, however, but seldom that 

 1 Murray ' ever sees a hooded crow, at least at a time when its 

 presence is really injurious strychnine and gunpowder having 

 cleared the county of it as a pest; so that if agriculturists are 

 at all diligent in their labours the proverb should now have no 

 foundation in fact. 



THE ROOK. 



CORVUS FRUGILEGUS. 



Creumhach Rocus. 



WITHIN a date comparatively recent, this familiar bird has pene- 

 trated to, and become permanently established in, places where 

 previously it was only known as an uncertain autumn visitant. Mr 

 Harvie Brown has sent me word that it is not more than three or 

 four years since the first rookery was set up in west Sutherlandshire; 

 and I have been informed by Mr Binning of Dingwall that in the 

 west of Ross-shire similar colonies were formed at Ullapool and 

 other places in 1864. In the island of Skye there is a large rookery 

 at Dunvegan woods, which is the most westerly breeding station 

 in Scotland for the species. Dr Dewar, who visited Dunvegan in 

 April, 1870, informs me that Rooks have only gone there of late 

 years, and that the trees on which the nests are placed are very 

 small. There can be no doubt that as woods increase the distri- 

 bution of the Rook in western Scotland will also become extended, 

 though it is certain that this bird is very destructive to the growth 

 of trees, from its habit of breaking off twigs at the nesting season. 

 From this circumstance, proprietors in the western Highlands 

 do not look upon Rooks with much favour, and would rather 

 see them banished from outlying districts in which they have 

 already appeared. Rookeries are now numerous even in the 

 wilder parts of Argyleshire; and in the absence of cultivation, by 

 means of which the ordinary food of the Rook is provided, it is 

 doubtful whether in game-frequented lands the accession of such 

 nurseries can be looked upon as a benefit or an injury. Even in 

 agricultural quarters, the protection or encourgement of Rooks has 



