Birds. 4327 



other of the two corbies was sure to meet him, and again with dismal 

 death -denoting croaks drove him away. Occasionally, however, the 

 rooks would alight in some tree a short distance off, waiting to ascer- 

 tain the result of these strange proceedings ; but no sooner were they 

 perched, than out sallied one of the crows, croaking and wailing at 

 the poor affrighted rooks, till they were glad to escape the harrowing 

 sound and decamp to one of the neighbouring rookeries, there 

 to report the lamentable fate which had befallen the ancient and 

 respected dynasty of rooks. Occasionally, too, a few jackdaws would 

 alight in the ash-trees, curious as is their nature, to know what 

 was astir; but no sooner had they commenced their pert, inquisitive 

 note, than out flew the corbies and scared them away, taking them, 

 no doubt, for some friendly European power come to assist the poor 

 Turks; and away went jackdaw in a more hasty manner, than, it 

 is sincerely to be hoped, any allied power of the Turks will ever 

 do from the Russians. This forcible possession continued until the 

 rooks had entirely given up all hope of recovering their lawful home ; 

 and with many bitter regrets and loud demonstrations of feeling at this 

 most Russian-like attack on their rights, they ceased further to visit 

 their old haunts. 



Having thoroughly convinced myself, after several mornings' and 

 evenings' careful watchings of the proceedings going on, what was 

 the real state of the case, I thought it became me no longer to allow 

 of this aggression on the part of the carrion crows, for whom, under 

 no circumstances, have I any sympathy, knowing the great damage 

 they do in various ways to young lambs, game, eggs, &c, I therefore 

 volunteered an alliance with the persecuted rooks. For this purpose, 

 I desired the keeper to go early and late, and secrete himself under 

 the ash-trees in the pit where the two crows had now taken up their 

 abode, and to shoot them as speedily as possible. For several 

 mornings at 4 o'clock, and again late in the evenings, the keeper 

 waited in vain, the two crows always keeping just out of reach ; till at 

 length, one unhappy crow coming somewhat nearer, the keeper shot 

 at it, and declared, though it did not absolutely fall dead, he was cer- 

 tain he must have killed it, because it Mew straight up as if it were 

 going into the clouds, and he could see nothing more of it. The 

 companion crow was too wary to let the keeper try the same experi- 

 ment upon him, and kept aloof for two or three days, when again a 

 pair were seen and heard croaking at every passing rook, as before. 

 The keeper tried all means to circumvent the corbies, but could only 

 report his own failure and consequent vexation : but unwilling to be 



