Class II. ROOK. 285 



be plundered by its brethren : they lay the same 

 number of eggs as the crow, and of the same 

 color, but smaller. After the breeding season 

 rooks forsake their nest-trees, and for some time ' 

 go and roost elsewhere, but return to them in 

 August: in October they repair their nests,* 

 quit their nest-trees again in the depth of winter 

 and roost in other woods, till February , when 

 they select their mates. 



In France and Silesia, these birds are migra- 

 tory ; in the former they appear at the approach 

 of winter ; in the latter they announce by their 

 arrival, the return of summer. 'f According to 

 Ekmark, who made his remarks in Ostrogoth- 

 land, they arrive in that province of Szveden 

 ab'vut the beginning of April, and leave it in 



autumn. J " 



. / 



« Calendar of Flora. 



■\- De Buffon.m.bQ. 



\ Amcen Acad. iv. 583. Vergente mense regelatlonis, in the 

 language of philosophy the ^/icat'iwo- month, beginningin Sweden 

 the 19th oi March and ending the 12th of April 



