

RAVENING ROOKS 45 



of snow-buntings had been seen about Highgate, 

 where, of course, scores of them were captured by 

 birdcatchers. Never more might they see the iron 

 cliffs of Hoy; never more in the broadening light 

 of spring cross the wide sea to their loved nesting 

 places in Arctic lands. They must beat out their 

 little lives in the back slums of Bermondsey or 

 Whitechapel, or linger till the advancing heat puts 

 an end to their sufferings. For even Bechstein, 

 most skilful of birdkeepers, found it impossible to 

 keep the snow-bunting alive in captivity for more 

 than a few weeks, so impatient it is of a close or 

 warm atmosphere. 



There are many doleful chapters such as this in 

 the annals of the bird trade. 



XVII 



The presence of rooks in this treeless land sug- 

 gests speculation, not only as to where 

 they can build their nests, but where they 

 can find sticks to fashion them withal. It is roundly 

 affirmed that they do so in whin bushes ; and it was 

 not till I had sojourned some days in the district 

 that I became aware of sundry groves of stunted, 

 wind-warped ash-trees round the houses of Dale, 



