Jenyns' Natural History. 1859 



some nights after, there was a heavy rain, which so completely soaked the nest, and 

 the drugget which had been placed in it as a lining, that the young ones were found 

 the following morning almost drowned, and to appearance lifeless. They were again 

 brought to the fire, and thoroughly dried ; after which they were placed in the empty 

 nest of another bird that was substituted for the old one, and fixed in a currant-bush, 

 a few yards from the wall where the ivy was. The young ones, which were half- 

 fledged when they got this wetting, still continued to receive the attentions of their pa- 

 rents, and in due time they were all safely reared, and flew away. It is stated, that it 

 was very curious to observe the familiarity of the old birds during the whole course of 

 these proceedings : they always sat close by, and never seemed the least alarmed at 

 the liberties taken with their progeny.'' — p. 127. 



Rooks suck Birds Eggs. — "May 12th, 1828. — Rooks undoubtedly suck partridges' 

 eggs occasionally, since the keeper at Bottisham, who found that havoc had been made 

 in that way by some vermin or other, lately set some traps near the nests and caught 

 several. 



" June 24th. — The men who are engaged in mowing the hay and clover, state that 

 the rooks follow their movements, and fall-to upon any nests which are exposed by 

 the scythe, devouring the eggs without mercy, and carrying others away in their bills, 

 — not sparing even those of the skylark. This singular fact, which they say they never 

 observed in former seasons, seems to be a new circumstance in the history of the rook, 

 and confirms what was recorded last month." — p. 147. 



Food of Rooks in Winter.—" Dec. 30th, 1829. — Feeling some desire to know how 

 rooks support themselves during severe frost, like that we have now experienced for 

 this fortnight back, I caused one of these birds to be shot and brought to me. It ap- 

 pears that they manage to subsist well, notwithstanding the cold weather ; for, on 

 opening the body, we were surprised to find it in most excellent condition, with the 

 stomach, intestines, and other abdominal viscera, completely covered with layers of fat. 

 The stomach itself was unusually distended, and projected externally below the ex- 

 tremity of the breast-bone like a large egg. The contents proved to be turnip and 

 wheat, mixed with a few gravels. The turnip was in a semi-digested state, but easily 

 identified by the smell: the grains of wheat were whole, and scarcely at all altered. 

 The stomach was completely full of this mixed food, and stuffed as tight as a 

 pin-cushion .'' — p. 148. 



Singular habit of the House Martin. — " Sept. 3rd, 1829. — House martins have a 

 singular practice throughout the breeding season, and more particularly towards the 

 latter part of it, of flying up against the walls of buildings, just below the eaves, and 

 daubing them with mud, apparently without any intention of constructing a nest. 

 Perhaps they do not go twice to the same spot : at any rate, these patches of dirt are 

 not applied with any regularity, but may be seen sticking to the brickwork, at intervals 

 of two or more inches all along the front of the building. Just at the present time, 

 my own house has a line of these mud patches carried round nearly three sides of it. 

 I fancy I notice, that the birds are more inclined to this sort of proceeding in some 

 states of weather than others. Occasionally, twenty or thirty martins will be busily 

 engaged in this manner from morning till night, when perhaps, for several days be- 

 fore and after, not one is to be noticed. A damp, cloudy day, especially if also warm, 

 seems to call them most to this employment, during which they appear actuated by 

 some feeling or excitement which it is difficult to explain. It is surely something 

 more than an instance of their " caprice in fixing on a nesting-place '' (alluded to by 



