THE ROOK. 521 



the nest with its living contents of a parent and three or foixt 

 young. 



The foundation of the nest is composed of sticks of various 

 sizes and lengths, all, however, being tolerably light and dry, the 

 Eook generally carrying up the dead branches that have been 

 blown down by the winds of the preceding winter. These are 

 usually interlaced among the spreading branches of a convenient 

 spray, and thus form a rude basket-work, in which will lie the 

 softer materials on which the eggs and young are to repose. 

 The lining is composed almost entirely of long and delicate 

 fibrous roots, which are intertwined, so as to make an interior 

 basket very similar in general construction to the twig basket of 

 the exterior, and being so independent of it that, with a little 

 care, it can be lifted out entire. 



On this soft bed are laid the eggs, which are four or five in 

 number, and are rather variable in colour, the usual tint being 

 greenish grey, lai^ly spotted, mottled, and splashed with dark 

 brown, in which a shade of green is visible. They vary in size 

 as well as in hue, and from the same nest I have taken eggs of 

 so different an aspect that a casual observer would probably 

 think them to be the production of distinct birds. 



The principal labours of nest-building fall on the young birds, 

 inasmuch as the elders mostly return to the same domicile 

 every successive season, and are seldom obliged to make an 

 entirely new nest. The young builders are sometimes aggrieved 

 at this distribution of labour, and try to equalize it by helping 

 themselves to the sticks belonging to other proprietors. The 

 general community, however, never suffer theft to be perpetrated, 

 and are sure in such a case to scatter the ill-gotten materials, 

 and force the dishonest birds to begin their labours anew. 



When the young are launched upon the world and able to get 

 their own living, the nest is used no more, but is abandoned 

 both by parents and young, not to be again used until repaired 

 in the spring of the following year. It is a curious point in the 

 economy of the Book, that, when it has abandoned its temporary 

 home, it does not choose to repose among the trees on which the 

 nest was made. Mr. Waterton, who possesses invaluable oppor- 

 tunities for studying the habits of this bird, and has developed 

 them to the utmost, makes the following remarks upon the 

 roosting of this bird : — 



