292 Wild Life in a Southern County. 
morning, flying along the downs. In describing the 
hill district, evidence was given of the existence of 
woods or forest land upon the downs in the olden 
time. Detached copses and small woods are still to 
be found ; and it happens that a part of this district, 
in the line of the eastward flight, belonged to a 
‘chase’ of which several written notices are extant. 
The habits of rooks seem more regular in winter 
than in summer. In winter the flocks going out in 
the morning or returning in the evening appear to 
pass nearly at the same hour day after day. But in 
summer they often stay about late. This last summer 
[1878] I noticed a whole flock, some hundreds in 
number, remaining out till late—till quite dusk— 
night after night, and always in the same place. It 
was an arable field, and there they stood close 
together on the ground, so close that in spots it was 
difficult to distinguish individuals. They were silent 
and still, making no apparent attempt at feeding. 
The only motion I observed was when a few birds 
arrived and alighted among them. Where they thus 
crowded together the earth was literally black. 
It was about three-quarters of a mile from their 
nesting-trees, but nesting had been over for more than 
two months. This particular field had recently been 
ploughed by steam tackle, and was the only one for a 
considerable distance that had been ploughed for 
some time. There they stood motionless, side by 
side, as if roosting on the ground; possibly certain. 
