THE ROOK 47 



cient insect food for the birds, is the best protection 

 from its mischief, and this is good for the services it 

 performs. 



A knowledge of the habits of the Rook is important, 

 because the bird is closely associated with husbandry, 

 and with its well organised work deeply affects the 

 interests of the husbandman. While the Hooded Crow 

 roams about the district with the Jackdaw, thousands of 

 Rooks cover the corn-fields; they settle also on fallow 

 ground, on the freshly ploughed field, on the sprouting 

 crops, and on the turnip-field. It is this appearance in 

 vast numbers which mainly distinguishes the Rook from 

 the Hooded Crow 7 , which otherwise its habits closely 

 resemble. 



In regard to this bird also, different views are held. 

 Whilst the scientific agriculturist considers it useful, the 

 old-fashioned husbandman is convinced that it is harm- 

 ful. Here again, therefore, must a just verdict be given, 

 between two opposing parties- but this verdict must be 

 impartial. Various things are said of the Rook but it is 

 not true that it picks the seed out of the earth, so that the 

 spoiled seed has to be ploughed in again. It only takes 

 the seed which has been imperfectly covered by the 

 harrow, and the reploughing is only an empty com- 

 plaint, for no one ever heard tell of a particular village, 

 or farm, where reploughing had to be performed on 

 account of the Rooks. The farmer who keeps his eyes 

 open before he gives an opinion knows that the Rook 

 digs his beak into the ground because he hopes to find 

 worms there. Sometimes it is shot, in order to 

 be set up as a scarecrow, but they say nothing of what 

 may be found in its crop, should it be opened; this, 

 however, is just what is necessary in order to ascertain 



