Rook Arynies. 253 



numerous, as lengthy, and as regular in its route as 

 the iirst. 



Every morning, from the beech trees where they 

 have slept, safe at that elevation from all the 

 dangers of the night, there set out these two vast 

 expeditionary corps. Regularly the one flies stead- 

 ily eastward over the downs ; as regularly the other 

 flies steadil}' northwards over the vale and meadows. 

 Doubtless in difterent country districts their habits 

 in this respect vary ; but here it is alwa^'s east and 

 always north. If an}' leave the wood for the south 

 or the west, as probably the}' do, they go in small 

 bodies and are quickly lost sight of. The two main 

 divisions sail towards the sunrise and towards the 

 north star. 



They preserve their ranks for at least two miles 

 from the wood ; and then gradually first one and 

 then another company falls out, and, wheeling round, 

 descends upon some favorite field, till, by degrees, 

 spreading out like a fan, the army melts awa3^ In 

 the evening the various companies, which may by 

 that time have worked far to the right or to the left, 

 gradually move into line. By-and-by the vanguard 

 comes sweeping up, and each regiment rises from 

 the meadow or the hill, and takes its accustomed 

 place in the return journey. 



So that although, if you casually observe a flock of 

 rooks in the daytime, the}' seem to wander hither and 

 thither just as fancy leads, or as they are driven by 

 passers-by, in reality they have all their special 

 haunts ; they adhere to certain rules, and even act 

 in concert, thousands upon thousands of them at 

 once, as if in obedience to the word of command, 



