Birds. 629 



to entertain one view of the question, or with Cuvicr and Yarrell, to 

 embrace the opposite opinion. — 



" Grammatici certant, et adhuc sub judice lis est." 



In May, 1842, I procured eight young birds from the rookery at 

 Petworth. Four of these were fed upon oatmeal, bread soaked in 

 milk, and boiled potatoes ; in short, they subsisted almost entirely on 

 a vegetable diet. The other four partook of animal food, such as hard 

 boiled eggs and raw meat, and were even allowed the flesh of spar- 

 rows, and other small birds. The result was, that the four former 

 birds wasted away and died in about a fortnight, while their carnivo- 

 rous brethren continued in the enjoyment of excellent health, show- 

 ing that the rook (at least in his state of nonage) has no legitimate 

 claim to the title offrugilegus. 



These birds were confined under a large inverted crate, furnished 

 with two perches, and placed in a dry situation in the garden, suffi- 

 ciently sheltered from the heat of the sun by the overhanging boughs 

 of a tall sycamore. As soon as they were capable of feeding them- 

 selves, their food, which now consisted almost entirely of raw meat, 

 chopped into small pieces, was scattered upon the ground inside the 

 crate. While in the act of devouring it, many particles became min- 

 gled with the soft earth at the bottom, and these the rooks endea- 

 voured to recover by boring and digging, and turning up the soft 

 earth in all directions, with a zeal and perseverance which I believe 

 to be peculiar to this species of Corvus. Other portions of the meat 

 accidentally fell beyond the precincts of the cage, but frequently at 

 such a tantalizing distance as to induce the birds to use their utmost 

 efforts to reach them, by standing on tiptoe, and stretching their necks 

 as far as possible through the bars of the crate ; but this experiment 

 failing, they had recourse to stratagem, and exhibited a skill and cun- 

 ning which one could hardly have expected at their tender age. They 

 commenced undermining the foundations of their prison, plying their 

 beaks like pickaxes, causing the mould to fly right and left, and suc- 

 ceeded at length in making such an aperture as allowed one of the 

 birds (who from the beginning appeared the most enterprizing of the 

 party) to thrust out his head and one of his shoulders, and eventually 

 bring his beak within an inch of the tempting morsel. This, as may 

 be supposed, only caused him to redouble his efforts ; his wings were 

 uncut, and a few more struggles sufficed to liberate him for ever, while 

 his companions, either astounded at his escape, or possessing less 

 decision of character, were so slow in following his example, that the 



