476 AVES—ROOK. 
bold bird; neither the kite, buzzard nor raven can approach its nest witnou 
being driven away; and when 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 ip ite 
habits in this country than in Europe. 
THE ROOK! 
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, 1t is said, by 
thrusting its bill into the earth in search of worms: but as the same appears 
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 
rookeries, 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 Pigges; and the unfortunate couple forced to begin their work anew in 
1 Corvus frugilegus, Lin. 
