iq6 THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



THE ROOK 



The Rook is one of the most useful birds that we have in this 

 country. Almost all through the year it helps us. Although it 

 undoubtedly steals some of our corn in spring and autumn, and 

 sometimes takes a few walnuts and young potatoes as well, yet 

 we ought to consider these as the payment for the work which 

 it does. And a very small payment it is for the valuable assist- 

 ance which it is constantly giving us. 



It helps us by killing the grubs which live upon the roots of 

 our crops. One grub of which it is very fond is that of the cock- 

 chafer. This is one of the most mischievous of all insects. For 

 three years at least it lives under the ground, eating the roots 

 of our corn, turnips, and cabbages, and indeed of almost every 

 plant that we grow. 



If it were not for the rook, we should at times find it very 

 difficult to grow any crops at all. But the bird can do what we 

 cannot. It seems to know at once exactly where a grub is lying, 

 and, driving its stout, strong beak into the ground, drags out the 

 insect and devours it. As the rook lives chiefly on such grubs, 

 we can imagine how very useful it is. 



Those who live in the country must have seen rooks following 

 the plough. These birds know perfectly well that when the earth 

 is turned up, many of the grubs will be turned up too. They, 

 therefore, hop along in the furrows, a few yards behind the plough- 

 man, and snap up great numbers of these troublesome creatures. 



Yet in some places the farmers believe that the rook is among 

 their greatest enemies. Once in a certain part of England all the 

 farmers thought so, and they had all the rooks killed. But in the 

 following year they found that they were wrong, for they had to 

 pay women and children to collect the grubs, which the rooks 

 would have killed for nothing. In some districts on the Con- 

 tinent, and particularly in France, these birds and others had to 

 be reintroduced and encouraged; for the farmers, who had igno- 

 rantly slaughtered them, found that without their aid their crops 

 would not pay for the growing. 



