CORVIDA. 247 
THE ROOK. 
Corvus FRUGILEGUS, Linnzus. 
The Rook is even better known than the Jackdaw, owing to its 
custom of living in noisy flocks throughout the year, and its tendency 
to select the vicinity of human habitations for its breeding-places. Few 
rookeries now exist in London, and the same may be said of other 
spreading cities; but as regards the country, the Rook is generally 
distributed throughout England and Wales, being especially numerous 
north of the Tees. In Scotland it has for some years been increasing 
in numbers and northward range, breeding in Caithness and Suther- 
land, the Outer Hebrides since 1895, and the Orkneys; while in 
Skye there are several rookeries. In the Shetlands, where trees are 
scarce, the Rook is at present only a visitor. The increase of this 
species is not regarded with favour in Scotland, for in default of 
other food it undoubtedly pilfers eggs, and in the small area of 
Renfrewshire it has been held responsible for 6,000 eggs in one 
year. In Ireland it is common. Numbers from the Continent visit 
our east coast (regularly) and our south-west districts (irregularly) in 
October and November, and a considerable return migration has 
been observed early in the spring. 
