426 CORY UK 



bristles very stiff and directed upwards and forwards ; wings very long, 

 the secondaries long ; beak and legs black ; iris brown. Culmen, 2'5. 

 width of lower mandible at base nearly 2, wing 14'5, tail 6 '4, tarsus 2 '4 

 inch. Sexes alike. 



Hob. N.E. Africa and Palestine. 



Frequents rocky and desolate localities, and in general habits 

 resembles its congeners. It is generally seen in pairs and 

 visits villages and camps in search of offal. Its note is a 

 raven-like kuck and a somewhat chattering kua, kua. Its 

 flight is peculiar, as it rather sails than flies, the motion of the 

 wings being scarcely perceptible. Respecting its modification 

 I find nothing on record. 



608. ROOK. 

 CORVUS FRUGILEGUS. 



Corvus frugileyus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 156 (1766) ; Nauin. ii. p. 78, 

 Taf. 55 ; Hewitson, i. p. 226, pi. lix ; Gould, B. of E. iii. pi. 224 ; 

 id. B. of Gt. Brit, iii. pi. 60 ; Newton, ii. p. 289 ; Dresser, iv. p. 551. 

 pi. 264 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. iii. p. 9 ; Gates. F. Brit. Ind. 

 Birds, i. p. 18 ; Saunders, p. 247 ; Lilford, ii. p. 49, pi. 22. 



Corbeau-Freux, French ; Gralha, Portug. ; Gorneja calva, 

 Chaya, Span. ; Corvo, Corvo-nero, Ital. ; Saatkrahe, Germ. ; Roek T 

 Dutch ; Kornkrage, Dan. ; Blaakrctake, Norw. ; IZaka, Swed. ; 

 Pieni-Korppi, Finn. ; Grach, Russ. 



ad. (England). Deep black, the head, neck, and under parts glossed 

 with bluish purple, the upper parts with violet-purple ; base of the bill, 

 space round the eye and chin denuded of feathers ; bill and legs black ;: 

 iris blackish brown. Culmen 2'35, wing 12'75, tail 6'6, tarsus 2'15 inch.. 

 Sexes alike. The young bird is duller in colour, and has the base of the 

 bill scantily covered with loose feathers. 



Hctb. The whole of Europe from about 60 N. Lat. in summer, 

 down to the Mediterranean in winter ; Northern Africa ; Asia 

 as far east as Kashmir and the Punjab. 



Essentially gregarious in its habits, the Rook is always seen 

 in large or small flocks and frequents the fields where it 

 follows the plough to pick up worms and insects which have 

 been exposed. It also feeds on shell-fish and fish that have 

 been cast up on the -seashore, acorns, beechnuts and fruit, and 

 it is particularly fond of walnuts ; grain it also eats and will 

 feed on carrion. The note is a somewhat harsh caw subject to- 

 considerable modulation especially during the pairing season. 



