ROCKET—ROOK. 201 
ROLLER [No. 207]. From Fr. Rollier. The name, which is 
found in Willughby, appears to originate with Gesner (1555) 
who says it was so called near Strasburg from its habit of 
rolling or turning over in its flight. 
Roop GoosE: The BRENT GOOSE. Swainson thinks it is 
from its cry (“rott”’). 
ROOK [No. 4]. Occurs in Aldrovandus (1599) as ‘“ Roock,” 
and in Merrett (1667) and also Willughby as Rook. Turner 
describes it as probably the frugilega of Aristotle, but gives 
no English name. Shakespeare also mentions it (as a bird 
of ill-omen) in ‘‘ Macbeth ”’ (act mt, se. 4). It is probably 
so named from its colour, rook (A.Sax. Aréc) being equivalent 
to smoke-black ; rooky is adjectivally used to denote this. It 
is an equivalent of the German rauch, smoke. Some authori- 
ties have, with much less reason, preferred raucus, from the 
bird’s hoarse note. In some parts of the country, according 
to Swainson, it is believed that Rooks forsake their home 
on the downfall of the family, or death of the heir of the 
estate ; this belief prevailing in Northumberland, Rutland 
and Cornwall. Dyer also says that it is a very prevalent 
notion in the North of England that “when Rooks desert 
a rookery which they have tenanted for a number of years, 
it foretells the coming downfall of the family on whose 
property itis.’ It is supposed that in earlier times owners 
of estates prided themselves on attaching the Rooks to 
them because they were regarded as “fowls of good omen.” 
The Rook is one of the most commonly believed in as a 
weather prognosticator among birds. When it hangs about 
home or flies up and down or especially low, rain or wind 
may be expected; when it “tumbles” or drops in its flight 
it is taken as a sure sign of rain. In connexion with this 
Dr. Jenner’s lines may be cited— 
And, see yon rooks how odd their flight, 
They imitate the gliding kite, 
And seem precipitate to fall, 
As if they felt the piercing ball— 
** Twill surely rain—I see with sorrow 
Our jaunt must be put off to-morrow.” 
If the birds feed busily and hurry over the ground in one 
direction, and in a compact body, a storm will soon follow. 
When they sit in rows on dykes and palings wind is looked 
for ; while when going home to roost if they fly high the next 
day will be fair, and vice versa (Inwards). A Devonshire 
saying is that if Rooks stay at home, or return in the middle 
of the day, it will rain ; if they go far abroad, it will be fine. 
