Zoological Notices, by James Smail. 103 



always gave a quick look into the small hole from which it had 

 come. This was, doubtless, with a view to getting a few grubs, 

 always a favourite food. The stem itself he always nibbled 

 and - squeezed along on the soft part, perhaps feeling for grubs 

 there also ; but he seemed also to relish the sweet sap of the 

 stem. Potatoes he pulled boldly up ; and ogled the hole 

 whence the shaws came, in the same manner as he had done in 

 the case of the pulled grass. My idea is, that Books carry off 

 potatoes, more with a view to picking out the small grubs often 

 found in them, than to eating the tuber. Seed potatoes, after 

 being in the ground for a month or two, often contain large num- 

 bers of insects of varied kinds. I sometimes offered him a slice 

 of raw potato, but he seldom ate any of it. 



This Rook got the scabrous beak, " whiteneb," at the second 

 moult, when about sixteen months old ; and another tame Eook, 

 which I had, got the scabrous beak in early spring, when about 

 ten months old. In a wild state the change in colour of the 

 beak takes place during the first winter. 



Although I have written of my tame Eook as he, I did not 

 know the sex ; and I have never seen in any book mention made 

 of any difference in shape, size, or appearance, between the cock 

 and hen of Books. I may also notify that, although I have been 

 an observer of Eooks and their ways for a long course of years, 

 I have only once observed sexual contact. 



I think Eooks are the most sagacious birds in our islands. 



Eook Nests in October. — A year or two ago, some Eooks 

 built nests in the month of October, at Timpendean ; and although 

 the nests got pretty well tattered before the spring, the birds 

 came back then, repaired them, and bred in them. I got this in- 

 formation from Mr Boog, Timpendean. 



Jackdaws. — Jackdaws have multiplied largely in Galashiels 

 district of late years. The town of Galashiels having extended 

 much in size, the Daws find an increase of shelter and nesting- 

 room. They nest to a large extent about roofs and empty chim- 

 neys on mills, dwelling-houses, and public-buildings. A year 

 seldom passes without a Jackdaw, old or young, coming down 

 some of our bedroom chimneys. The number of Jackdaws that 

 associate and lodge at night with Eooks, has also been much 

 augmented of late years. 



Cuckoo-koo. — I heard at Howford, Peeblesshire, a Cuckoo 



