160 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



found on every kind of field in turn. They visit 

 the grass-lands, especially when manure is being 

 spread; they are constant companions of the plough- 

 man's team, and search furrow after furrow as the 

 bright share turns over the brown earth; whilst all 

 the newly-sown patches are sought for any seed 

 that may chance to be within reach. In seed-time 

 Rooks are certainly troublesome, and usually one or 

 two of the marauders have to be shot and hung up 

 from stakes on the scene of their misdeeds as a 

 warning to the rest before the pilfering ceases. And 

 yet happy is the farmer that has a rookery within 

 easy distance of his land. The birds will increase 

 its value and fertility by ridding pasture and arable 

 land of countless insect pests, and for nine or ten 

 months out of the twelve wage a never-ending war 

 upon the real enemies of his crops. Many farmers 

 we have known will admit that the Rook is of service; 

 others have been converted into staunch friends of 

 the bird after we have satisfied them by ocular 

 demonstration of the number of wire- worms a 

 healthy hearty Rook will devour in the course of 

 a morning. Very beautiful these birds look in their 

 purple-black plumage, almost as polished as bright 

 steel, in the sunlight as they walk about the ploughed 

 fields and pastures. And then their home in the 

 cluster of elm -trees yonder is a place fraught with 

 interest if full of noise. Towards the close of 



