12 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



[vol. XV, 



While the female was incubating the male spent a good 

 deal of his time away, searching for food, and would return 

 with a well-filled pouch and feed his sitting mate, who would 

 utter deep guttural sounds, as though choked with food. 

 At other times he would bring a large worm and place it 



Rook : Male feeding Female. 

 {Photographed by Stanley Crook. ) 



with his beak on a branch, then place his foot upon it, and 

 readjust it in his beak, in order to give it to his consort with 

 greater facility. 



The incubation period also provided many exciting 

 episodes. Frequently without the slightest warning a 

 neighbour (or even a passing Rook) would swoop down on a 



