264 



CASSKLLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



Owl, whose attacks are the more fatal from the circumstance that they always occur during the night, 

 and thus render the possibility of eluding them almost hopeless ; the Crows, however, take every 

 opportunity of avenging themselves during the day, and fall upon their dreaded foe with the utmost 

 ferocity ; indeed, so strong is the hatred with which they regard their arch-enemy that those engaged 

 in Crow shooting often fasten an owl immediately in front of the small huts under which they lie 

 concealed, and fire upon the flocks of Crows as they come down in furious crowds to mob and worry 

 their helpless persecutor. 



THE ROOK. 

 The Rook, or Field Crow {Corvus frugilegus, or Frugilegus segctutn), is a most useful species, 

 inhabiting all the plains of the south of Europe and the southern portion of Siberia, even as 

 far as Afghanistan and Cashmere. These birds are distinguished by their slim appearance, the 





the rook {Corvus frugilegus). 



decided elongation of their beaks, their long wings, abruptly rounded tails, close, glossy plumage, 

 and by the bareness of the face observable in the old birds, occasioned, probably, by continually 

 rubbing it upon the ground when in search of food. Their length is from about eighteen to nineteen 

 inches, the breadth thirty-seven to thirty-nine inches, the wing measures thirteen to fourteen inches, 

 and the tail ten and a half inches. The plumage of the adults of both sexes is an uniform purplish 

 black, and that of the young birds pale black ; the faces of the latter are covered with feathers. 

 Unlike the members of the family described above, the Rooks migrate regularly, and in enormous 

 swarms, towards Southern Europe and the north of Africa, everywhere preferring well-wooded and 

 fruitful plains, and never settling upon mountains except whilst occupied in journeying from one 

 country to another. Like their congeners, they assemble in flocks, usually choosing a clump of 

 trees as a gathering point, from which they fly over the neighbourhood, and upon these they build 

 their nests. In their habits they are more social than other Crows, freely associating with birds that 

 are weaker than themselves, but exhibiting such fear of the Raven that they will vacate a favourite 

 resort on its first appearance, even although they may be so attached to the locality as to refuse 

 to quit it when men attempt to drive them from the spot. In bodily endowments and intelligence 

 they are inferior to none of their family, but are far more timid and harmless in their disposition. 



