476 



AVES— rook:. 



bold bird; neither the kite, buzzard nor raven can approach its nest without 

 being driven away ; and wiien it has young, it will even fall upon the 

 peregrine falcon, and bring it to the ground by a single stroke of the bill. 



It is a very common bird in the United States, and is more familiar in its 

 habits in this country than in Europe. 



THE ROOKi 



Is about the size of the carrion crow, and, excepting its more glossy plu- 

 mage, very much resembles it. The base of the bill and nostrils, as far as the 

 eyes, is naked, in which it differs from all the rest, occasioned, it is said, by 

 thrusting its bill into the earth in search of worms : but as the same appear- 

 ance has been observed in such as have been brought up tame and unaccus- 

 tomed to that mode of subsistence, we are inclined to consider it an 

 original peculiarity. Rooks are useful in preventing a too great increase of 

 that destructive insect the chafer or dor-beetle, and thereby make large recom- 

 pense for the depredations they may occasionally commit on the corn-fields. 

 They are gregarious, and fly in immense flocks at morning and evening to 

 and from their roosting places in quest of food. During the breeding time they 

 live together in large societies, and build their nests on the tallest trees close 

 to each other, frequently in the midst of large and populous towns. These 

 cookeries, however, are often the scenes of bitter contests ; the new comers 

 are frequently driven away by the old inhabitants, their half-built nests torn 

 in pieces, and the unfortunate couple forced to begin their work anew in 



• Corvus /'ruffileffus, Lin. 



