ROOK. 201 



up in each individual rookery. The accidents of life 

 can hardly destroy them in proportion to the annual increase, 

 especially considering the longevity usually attributed to 

 the Corvus family in general. Neither do rookeries enlarge 

 very materially from year to year ; nor is the establishment 

 of a new rookery where none existed before a circumstance of 

 very frequent occurrence. 



Occasionally, however, a newly founded colony is observed 

 to establish itself; of which an instance was lately com- 

 municated to us by a friend, who says, " Between five and 

 six years ago, about thirty pairs of Rooks, visited some trees 

 in a field belonging to Edmund Jenny, Esq. of Hasketon, 

 Suffolk, and began to build. In due time they finished 

 their nests and laid eggs ; and while sitting upon them, 

 a violent storm of wind blew down their eggs, and some of 

 their nests, and damaged the rest, and hindered them in 

 their purpose of rearing up a family that year. In the 

 following spring the Rooks returned to the same spot ; 

 built their nests, laid their eggs, and reared their young ; and 

 there is now a thriving rookery." 



Rooks are cautious and wary birds, and very watchful 

 of the approach of an enemy in the shape of man, taking 

 great care to keep out of gun-shot ; and when on the wing- 

 overhead will suddenly diverge from the course of their 

 flight if a stick only is pointed at them. They are, how- 

 ever, courageous in defence of themselves, if wounded, 

 or in resenting the death of one of their own commu- 

 nity, of which we met many years ago with a curious in- 

 stance. Being once out with a gun it was our fortune to 

 have rather better sport than our companion, who had 

 killed nothing, and being rather irritated at his bad luck 

 determined to shoot the first thing that came in his way. 

 Presently a flight of Rooks came over ; he raised his gun 

 and fired, and one of the birds fell ; as he stooped to pick 



