222 Wild Life in a Southern County 



fright — on the 1st of September. Guns are going off in 

 all directions, no matter where they turn, so that they find 

 it impossible to feel at ease, and instead of feeding wheel 

 about in the air, or settle on the trees. 



The glossy plumage of the rook will sometimes, when 

 seen at a certain angle, reflect the sun's rays in such a 

 manner that instead of looking black the bird appears 

 clothed in shining light : it is as if the feathers were polished 

 like a mirror. In feeding they work in a grave, steady 

 way — a contrast to the restless starlings who so often 

 accompany them. They do not put a sentinel in a tree to 

 give warning of the approach of an enemy. The whole 

 flock is generally on the ground together, and, if half a 

 dozen perch awhile on the trees, they soon descend. So 

 far are they from setting a watch, that if you pass up out- 

 side the hedge to the leeward, on any side except where 

 the wind would carry the noise of footsteps to them, it is 

 easy to get close — sometimes, if they are feeding near the 

 hedge, within three or four yards. Of course, if a rook 

 happens to be in a tree it will not be possible to do so j 

 but they do not set a sentinel for this purpose. 



Rooks, in a general way, seem more at their ease in 

 the meadows than in the arable fields. In the latter they 

 are constantly fired at, if only with blank charges, to 

 alarm them from the seed, besides being shouted at and 

 frightened with clappers. The birdkeeper's efforts are, 

 however, of very little avail. If he puts the flock up on 

 one side of the field, they lazily sail to a distant corner, 

 and when he gets there go back again. They are fully 

 aware that he cannot injure them if they keep a certain 

 distance ; but this perpetual driving to a.nd fro makes 

 them suspicious. In the meadows it is rare for them to 

 be shot at, and they are consequently much less timid. 



