ROOK. 99 
ROOK. 
» Corvus FRucILEGus, Linn. 
Pl. XV., figs. 7, 8. 
Geogr. distr.—Europe generally; Asia as far east as India: common 
everywhere in Great Britain. 
Food.—S8eeds and grain, fruit, worms, slugs, insects in all stages, 
fish, young birds, mice, and carrion. 
Nest.—A bulky structure of rough sticks, lined with mud, straws, 
grass, wool, fibrous roots, &c. 
Position of nest.—In the upper branches of tall, growing trees; 
many nests being usually built close together, and forming what is 
known as a rookery. 
Number of eggs.—4-5. 
Time of nidification.—III-IV. 
From the observation of some years I am led to the con- 
clusion that the Rook seldom nests earlier than March, at 
any rate in the counties of Kent and Surrey.* 
In severe winters it is not a rare occurrence for a Rook 
to stoop suddenly upon some unfortunate Sparrow, which 
it kills with a blow of its bill, and, putting one foot upon it, 
pulls it to pieces after the manner of a Hawk. I have on 
several occasions witnessed this predatory habit, but always 
on the coldest of winter days, when probably no other food 
could be obtained. At such times the Rook will come into 
one’s garden and feed upon fat, pie-crust, or other table 
refuse, driving off the smaller birds; no sooner, however, 
does it take wing than these same pigmies mob it, and 
frequently succeed in so far annoying it that the choice 
morsel is dropped, and seized upon by the pursuers. The 
same thing may constantly be observed in the spring, when 
the Rooks are chased by Starlings, which rob them of 
almost every grub that they attempt to carry to their nests, 
so that it is a matter for wonder how the young Rooks get 
sufficient to sustain life. 
The note of this bird is a long-drawn “ carr.” 
* It is said not to commence building in earnest until from the 
10th to the 11th March; but this seems to me rather too precise. 
