553 



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Brander shot a Rook in June 1867 as high as Pudasjarvi parish, in 65J° N. lat. In the winter 

 of 1870-71 this species was numerous in Central and Southern Finland, and as far north even 

 as Kajana and Uleaborg; but under usual circumstances it only occurs in the south of Finland, 

 where it is tolerably rare. Von Wright says that large and small flocks are seen in Southern 

 Finland during the spring migration, but less frequently in the autumn. He does not know if 

 they breed in Finland. Mr. Sabanaeff writes that it is a common species in Central Russia, and 

 is found as far north as Archangel, where, my collector informs me, it breeds, though not in 

 large numbers. In Central Russia, as elsewhere, it nests in large colonies. In the Ural, 

 Sabanaeff says, it is not met with further north than 59° N. lat. on the western slope ; and on 

 the eastern slope it does not pass the 57th° N. lat. It frequently winters in the Ural, and is 

 most numerous in the birch-woods of the Ekaterinburg and Shadrinsk districts. Mr. Jacovleff 

 speaks of it as being very numerous at Astrachan, and says that some migrate further south 

 during the winter ; but as they are absent a very short time, they cannot go far. 



It is met with in the Baltic Provinces and Poland, but is stated by Meyer to be rare in 

 Livonia, and by Borggreve is said to be a partial migrant throughout North Germany in all 

 districts, excepting in the mountains, but is most numerous in the west. I saw large numbers 

 in Rhenish Prussia ; and when at Altenkirchen last spring, I visited a very large rookery in the 

 Nassau territory. In Denmark it is a summer resident, arriving in February or March, and 

 migrating southward again in large flocks in October or November. 



In Belgium it nests in large numbers; but in Luxemburg it is said to be principally a 

 winter visitant. Mr. H. M. Labouchere informs me, "it is a much less common species in 

 Holland than it is in England, and, in comparison with that country, only few rookeries are found 

 here ; this is chiefly due, however, to the fact of their nests being disturbed and pulled down in 

 most districts whenever they attempt to form a colony. The only part of Holland where I have 

 seen many Rooks is in the province of Guelderland, where they are suffered to build unmolested 

 in the parks and woods of the Dutch nobility." Baron von Droste Hiilshoff records it from the 

 Island of Borkum, and says that in some seasons large flocks pass, whereas in others it is very 

 rare; and in 1866 he only saw two flocks, which passed on the 4th October. In France it is 

 common, and breeds in the northern provinces, but is only a winter visitant to the southern 

 districts. Professor Barboza du Bocage includes it in his list of the birds of Portugal as a 

 common species ; and it is found in Spain during the autumn and winter. Dr. C. Bolle says 

 (J. f. 0. 1855, p. 299) that it " arrives in Spain in November in numerous flocks, and remains till 

 March. In Galicia it is common and resident." 



Throughout Southern Europe generally it is a winter visitant. According to Bailly it 

 generally appears in Savoy in October on its way to the plains, and but few remain there during 

 the winter. In Italy it is very numerous during the winter season ; and Salvadori thinks that 

 some may remain to breed in the northern provinces. It also appears in Sicily in the winter, 

 but retires in the spring, none ever remaining to breed in any part of the island : nor, according 

 to Cara, does it ever breed in Sardinia, where, Mr. A. B. Brooks writes (Ibis, 1873, p. 248), it is 

 "common in winter. None remain during the summer." 



Mr. C. A. Wright, who records it as being found at Malta, writes (Ibis, 1864, p. 55) that it 



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