ROOK. 203 



able number of years. They are also said never to build on 

 any except those which are still growing, nor after they have 

 arrived at maturity, both of which circumstances may be 

 accounted for in the following manner : — Trees still growing, 

 by shooting forth young twigs annually, afford the Rooks a 

 better means whereby their nests may be attached ; while, on 

 the contrary, those on the decline have their summits com- 

 posed of dead, dried branches, on which the nests have 

 little hold, and are, consequently, liable to be blown down by 

 every hurricane. Carpenters and woodmen sometimes turn 

 these habits to good account, when determining the proper 

 age for cutting down rookery timber, deeming it quite ready 

 for the axe when these birds forsake it for another habi- 

 tation. 1 '' 



The length of the Rook is eighteen or nineteen inches. 

 The plumage of the whole body is black, richly glossed 

 upon the head, neck, breast, and all the rest of the upper 

 parts, with purple reflections. The beak is black : the basal 

 part of the beak, and the skin round about it, are whitish and 

 mealy, owing to the wearing away of the feathers by the pro- 

 cess of digging, by which this species obtains its sustenance. 

 This peculiarity in the Rook does not shew itself until the 

 young birds acquire the power and strength to provide for 

 themselves, which takes place during their first winter : until 

 that period, their throat, and basal part of the beak are clothed 

 with black feathers, in the same manner as in the rest 

 of the Corvus family. The iris is brown : the legs and feet 

 shining black. 



The Rook produces four or five eggs, and the young 

 are ready to fly about the end of May : if taken just before 

 they leave the nest they are excellent eating, being little 

 inferior to pigeons. 



In some parts of Suffolk, and probably in other counties 



