TAKING STOCK OF THE BIRDS 233 



thus relieved its indignant feelings it flew heavily 

 away to the far end of the field, and settling down 

 began prodding away at the soil. The cow, standing 

 still, gased after it, and one could almost imagine 

 her saying : *' So you won't get out of the field ! 

 Well ! I'll soon make you. I'm going to have it 

 all to myself this morning/' And at once she began 

 rapidly walking towards the bird* But half-way to 

 it was the post set up in the middle of the field for 

 the cows to rub their hides, and on coming abreast 

 of it, the sight of it and its proximity suggested the 

 delight of a rub, and turning off at right angles she 

 walked straight to the post and began rubbing herself 

 against it. The rook went on with its business, and 

 after that there was no more quarrelling. 



Another morning this same old rook came with 

 his mate to the field : separating, they came down 

 a distance of a hundred yards or more apart and 

 began searching for grubs. By and by the old cock 

 discovered something particularly good, and after 

 vigorously prodding the turf for a few moments he 

 sprang up and flew excitedly to his mate, who 

 instantly knew what this action meant and began 

 fluttering her wings and crying for the dainty morsel 

 which he proceeded to deliver into her wide-open 

 mouth. Having fed her, he flew back to the same 

 spot and began working again. 



This is a common action of the rooks, and I saw 



