Meadow Rooks. a7 3 
going off in all directions, no matter where they turn, 
so that they find it impossible to feel at ease, and 
instead of feeding wheel about in the air, or settle 
on the trees. 
The glossy plumage of the rook will sometimes, 
when seen at a certain angle, reflect the sun’s rays in 
such a manner that instead of looking black the bird 
appears clothed in shining light: it is as if the 
feathers were polished like a mirror. In feeding they 
work in a grave, steady way---a contrast to the rest- 
less starlings who so often accompany them. They 
do not put a sentinel in a tree to give warning of the 
approach of anenemy. The whole flock is generally 
on the ground together, and, if half-a-dozen perch 
awhile on the trees, they soon descend. So far are 
they from setting a watch, that if you pass up outside 
the hedge to the leeward, on any side except where 
the wind would carry the noise of footsteps to them, 
it is easy to get close—sometimes, if they are feeding 
near the hedge, within three or four yards. Of course 
if a rook happens to be in a tree it will not be possible 
to do so; but they do not set a sentinel for this 
purpose. 
Rooks, in a general way, seem more at their ease 
in the meadows than in the arable fields. In the 
latter they are constantly fired at, if only with blank 
charges, to alarm them from the seed besides being 
shouted at and frightened with clappers. The bird- 
keeper’s efforts are, however, of very little avail. If 
T 
