248 A Rook with White Feathers. 



It must not, therefore, be supposed that ever}^ one 

 flying alone is a crow. Crows are scarce in compari- 

 son with rooks. In severe weather a rook will some- 

 times venture into the courtvard of the farmstead. 



Two rooks marked with white resided at the 

 rookery here for several years. One had sufficient 

 white to be distinguished at a distance ; the other 

 seemed to have but one or two feathers, which were, 

 however, visible enough when near the bird. As 

 they have not been seen lately, they have probably 

 been shot by some one who thought it clever to 

 destroy any thing out of the ordinary. Most large 

 rookeries can either show a rook with white feathers, 

 or have well authenticated records of their former 

 existence ; but though not rare, people naturally like 

 to preserve them when they do occur, and it is ex- 

 tremely annoying to have them wantonly killed. 



