2632 The Zoologist — June, 1871. 



lovers of rook shooting. That the rook really is a useful bird in 

 feeding upon noxious insects, especially the larvae of the cock- 

 chaffer {Melolontha vulgaris), is now pretty generally allowed by 

 the enlightened farmer, and has been proved by Prof. Buckman 

 and others who have examined the craws of rooks. Nevertheless, 

 it is deemed best by many cultivators to "frighten the crows 

 away," if possible. This is pleasant work for a farmer's boy, and 

 the rooks are probably not much scared by him. Some varieties 

 of the rook, mottled with white, have occurred near Malvern, and 

 one of a dirty white or cream-colour, preserved by Mr. Edwards, 

 is now in the possession of Mr. J. V. Horny old. 



Jackdaw. — A well-known frequenter of old towers and ruins, and 

 established at Little Malvern. Also builds at Great Malvern in 

 the Priory Church, but the rocks of the hills are not precipitous 

 enough for their purposes. 



Magpie, — Not uncommon, anrl, according to the number seen, 

 looked upon as a bird of omen by rustics. 



Jay. — Very common in every wood, where they scream upon all 

 intruders. These woodland sounds, though mostly meant as an 

 alarum by the birds, are always delightful to the ear of a wanderer, 

 for, as Cowper writes, — 



" The cawing rooks, and kites that svdia sublime 

 In still repeated circles, screaming loud, 

 The jay, the pie, and e'en the boding owl 

 That hails the rising moon, have charms for me." 



Slarling. — Generally distributed, and in the autumn often asso- 

 ciated with the rooks in flocks ; but what advantage is derivable 

 from this partnership in pasturage is not very evident, though 

 curious enough, for wherever the rooks fly the starlings follow. 



[The association of rooks and starlings on the same feeding-ground is 

 familiar to all observers, and there is no doubt both species are attracted 

 by the same food, viz. the larvte of Agrotis Segctum, Charaeas Graminis, 

 Tipula oleracea, Amphimalla solstitialis, Meloloutba vulgaris, &c. ; but it is 

 not clear to me that the rooks act as pioneers, indeed the very converse of 

 this is sometimes the case, the starlings being the first to discover the 

 banquet. I have observed a feature in the digging operations of the 

 starlings that I do not recollect having seen mentioned : this bird appears 

 to dig with its mouth open, the upper mandible penetrating the ground, 

 but not the lower. — E. Newman.] 



