l.XXI. 

 COKVUS I'UUGILKGUS. (linn ) 



Rook. 



There are few scenes in nature wliicli present a more 

 lively and unceasing interest than a rookery. With the ear- 

 liest dawn of spring the Rook returns to those family trees 

 which have probably been in the possession of its forefathers 

 for centuries. Immediately on its arrival all is turmoil and 

 confusion, and many a fight takes place ere a mutual under- 

 standing is established, and each remains in undisputed ])0s- 

 session of its own particular bough ; nmuy attacks are made 

 by the stronger on the nests of the weaker party, whose foun- 

 dation is often pulled in pieces to furnish materials for the con- 

 struction of the nests of the victors. 



The Rooks commonly begin to build in March, though 

 they may be seen on a bright day carrying an occasional stick 

 for a month before ; it is at this early season of the year, 

 when most of the feathered tribes are yet under the influence 

 of winter, that the joyous caw of the Rook is heard with so 

 much pleasure, and its oft repeated visits to each tree in its 

 neighbourhood in search of those twigs most adapted to its 

 wants, add such an interest to their yet leafless branches ; 

 most of trees furnish contributions in their turn, but the elm 

 seems the favourite ; the extremities of its branches are easily 

 broken off, and are fine and pliable. I have often watched 

 this industrious bird for hours, and have many times seen it, 

 when carrying too large a stick, fairly borne away by the 

 wind, and after a fruitless struggle be obliged to let it fall. — 

 Rooks seems greatly to prefer those trees which are lofty, and 

 near some dwelling ; however, at times, they deviate rather 

 whimsically from theirusual habits. There are several instances 

 of their building in trees of a lower growth, as in the case of 



