ROOK. 197 



INSESSORES. CORVIDjE. 



CONIROSTRES. 



PLATE CXXVII. 



ROOK. 



CORVUS FRUGILEGUS* 



The middle and southern portions of Europe appear to 

 be the climates chiefly adapted for the residence of the Rook. 

 It is also known to inhabit some of the temperate parts of 

 Asia, being found about the Black and Caspian Seas, and 

 eastward, as far as Japan. From North America we have 

 no distinct information on the subject. The range of the 

 Rook in Europe is confined within much narrower limits than 

 those assigned to the raven and the crow. It penetrates not 

 further north than the southern parts of Sweden in summer, 

 and leaves those regions entirely in winter. In Shetland it 

 appears to be a bird of uncertain and periodical appearance, 

 and is only mentioned by Mr. Edmonston in his Fauna of 

 that island, as being " sometimes seen in spring." In 

 Scotland, in parts at least of that kingdom, the Rook is a 

 permanent resident ; this is the case in Moray, according to 

 the Rev. G. Gordon, where this species remains all the year, 

 frequenting at most seasons arable or meadow land, and 

 feeding chiefly upon terrestrial or rather subterranean insects ; 

 but after the breeding season, according to the same gentle- 

 man, they repair for a short time to the hills and moors, to feed 

 upon larvae that are about that period making their appear- 

 ance in those subalpine districts ; or as some suppose, to 



