376 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



nesting-time, in districts where there are large rookeries, the 

 heather on the moors, and the fences in the fields are sought by 

 Eooks, yard by yard, for the eggs of game-birds. In the district 

 surrounding the Cheviots, where there are many rookeries, a nest 

 overlooked is the exception. One shepherd told me, two years ago, 

 that he knew of eight Grouse-nests, and only two had escaped. 

 Meeting a head keeper on a large estate, a few weeks ago, I asked 

 him how the Partridges were doing. His reply was, " He knew 

 of dozens of nests, but scarcely one had escaped the Eooks." 

 From what I have seen, and the evidence I have obtained, I am 

 led to believe that not more than — if as many as — one-third of 

 the game-nests escape their search. It has been remarked of 

 late years that Grouse have decreased much in the districts 

 mentioned, since such a small proportion of the eggs escape ; 

 and the Rook does not confine himself to eggs, for he takes the 

 birds if he discovers them at a young and tender age. 



How is it that the Eook has not been tried and condemned 

 long since ? Here are birds which do the farmer ten times as 

 much harm as good, and destroy more game-birds than scores of 

 poachers, yet nothing is done to stop their depredations, whilst 

 much money is spent in providing keepers to preserve from human 

 poachers. I would not by any means propose to exterminate 

 Eooks ; but it appears to me that if they were diminished to, say, 

 one-sixth of their present number, it would only be reducing 

 them to their normal number, and restoring the balance of nature, 

 which having in times past (both as regards birds and beasts) 

 been so materially disturbed by man, must continue in some 

 degree to be regulated by him. 



Next to the Eook in doing damage are House Sparrows, 

 which are most injurious to fruit trees and bushes, by eating out 

 the young buds ; and in districts where they are numerous they 

 are most destructive to corn crops as soon as the ears approach 

 maturity. Like the Eook, they have increased enormously of late 

 years, and it is absolutely necessary that, in their case also, some- 

 thing should be done to reduce them to their normal number. 



Another pest of the farm is the Wood Pigeon, destructive 

 to com crops, turnips, and clovers. Only in some parts of the 

 county do they appear in numbers, and when they do so, they 

 are generally temporary visitors in severe weather from a more 

 northern climate. 



