ROOK. 97 



the numbers of the birds themselves, must be consumed to 

 an enormous extent. During the farmer's seed time, if 

 other food is scarce, the newly-sown grain requires to be 

 watched to keep the Rooks away ; they will also occasion- 

 ally steal a few cherries, or green walnuts, and in severe 

 winters peck holes in turnips or potatoes. There is reason 

 to believe that the visits of Rooks to turnips may be in 

 some degree beneficial. Farmers have suffered great in- 

 jury of late years, particularly in Hertfordshire and Essex, 

 from the attack of a large brown grub, the larva of a very 

 common grey moth, called the corn rustic, Agrotis segetum 

 of entomologists ; from four to seven of which I have known 

 to be found eating their way into the bulb of one turnip. 



The Rook inhabits wooded and cultivated districts. As 

 early in the year as the month of February these birds are 

 seen to visit their nests of the preceding year, which are 

 usually placed thickly together in the tops of tall trees, 

 sometimes to the number of seven or eight nests on the 

 same tree, and generally selecting such trees as have been 

 planted to form avenues, or otherwise ornamental as timber, 

 and in the vicinity of inhabited mansions, or other build- 

 ings. In March, and usually about the second week of that 

 month, the Rooks begin to repair the nests for their use, 

 and some new nests are built by the young birds of the pre- 

 vious year. These are formed of twigs, and lined with grass 

 and fibrous roots. While the nests are in progress, con- 

 siderable clamour prevails at times among the birds, which 

 appears to arise from attempts made to rob one another of 

 the materials employed in building; and it is observed 

 that while a nest is in progress, one of the feathered pro- 

 prietors remains near it to guard it against intruders, and 

 its mate fetches whatever may be next wanted to proceed 

 with ; it has also been repeatedly noticed, that if a pair of 



VOL. II. H 



