Presidential address. 41? 



were crammed full of grubs. It is related in the same place 

 how Rooks have been shot on barley stooks, where they were 

 supposed to be eating the barley, but when opened they have 

 not contained a single grain, but have been full of grubs and 

 insects. Mr. Smail says, "They peculate now and then from 

 the stooks, but very moderately. I have shot Rooks on several 

 occasions when feeding in stubble fields where grain was abund- 

 ant, and when opened I seldom found more than a few grains in 

 the stomach, and I as often found none, but there was generally 

 present a considerable mash of beetles, small earth-worms, hog- 

 lier, and larvse of various insects." 



The Rev. Dixon Dixon Browne, of Unthank, has had exactly 

 similar results from post-mortems he has made, and I am glad 

 to observe that he mentions the fact in his letters to the daily 

 press in defence of the Rooks. 



Mr. Bolam has reminded us that when hard-pressed for food 

 the Rook will feed with sheep on cut turnips in the boxes, as 

 well as dig out turnips and potatoes and open out the hearts ; 

 but it is believed by many people, amongst them being Miss 

 Omerod, the distinguished entomologist, and with some degree 

 of reason, that the Rook is able to distinguish by the appearance 

 of the leaves which plant is unhealthy, and that finding such a 

 turnip or potato he digs it up in order to get at the grub with 

 which it is infested. If this be so, then no material damage is 

 done, because if the plant were left unmolested it would be 

 worthless, or nearly so, in the autumn. 



Mr. Henry Kerr, of Bacup, whose "Seasonal Bird Notes" 

 form one of the most interesting features of our leading weekly 

 newspaper, recently told me that on grass lands the Rooks thrive 

 well, and do an infinity of good in preying on the ground vermin, 

 especially wire-worms, and in this they are assisted by the 

 smaller birds, Lapwings, Starlings, Sparrows, Larks, etc. In 

 his district, Rossendale, North-East Lancashire, there are no 

 cereal or root crops within a radius of fifteen miles, yet the 

 Rooks swarm there, and are never molested by the farmers, who 

 know that they would have no pasturage for their cattle except 

 through the labours of the birds. Rooks are very partial to 



