14 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



[vol. XV- 



during the absence of the male. On a few occasions he 

 returned just after the attack had commenced and flew with 

 great fierceness at the invaders, who dispersed and retreated 

 in disorder. 



I fully expected either to find the bird half dead or the 

 eggs broken after some of these unprovoked attacks, but 

 she did not appear to be much the worse, for after shaking 



Rook : Female enticing Young to leave the Nest. 

 {Photographed by Stanley Crook.) 



herself and pulling out some disarranged feathers, she re- 

 settled on the eggs. 



Occasionally the female would leave her nest to chase 

 away a Jackdaw, or another Rook who ventured too near 

 her nest ; but such small fry as Tits, Chaffinches and Starlings 

 were ignored. 



After the eggs had hatched out, I have no record of any 

 attack being delivered. 



