THE BOOK. 



Corvus frugilegus 



IS bird is one of the commonest 

 of the Crow tribe; yet, like 

 many another useful member 

 of the bird world, the Rook has 

 often been denounced as a 

 depredator because it takes toll 

 of the newly-sown seeds and 

 grain ; whereas, in fact, it is 

 one of the farmers 7 best friends, 

 and, but for its assistance, 

 many a fair field of corn or 

 roots would be completely de- 

 stroyed by grubs, worms, and 

 other destructive insects. Rooks 

 have been noticed to visit fields 

 or meadow-pastures, and pull 

 up the roots in their endeavour 

 to obtain the grub or other 

 insect beneath. This was at 

 first ignorantly cited as wanton 

 destruction, but it was found, 

 upon minute inspection, that 

 almost all these plants had 

 been attacked by some pest to 



