238 Wild Life in a Southern County 



the line of the eastward flight, belonged to a ' chase,' of 

 which several written notices are extant. 



The habits of rooks seem more regular in winter than 

 in summer. In winter the flocks going out in the morning 

 or returning in the evening appear to pass nearly at the 

 same hour day after day. But in summer they often stay 

 about late. This last summer [1878] I noticed a whole 

 flock, some hundreds in number, remaining out till late — 

 till quite dusk — night after night, and always in the same 

 place. It was an arable field, and there they stood close 

 together on the ground, so close that in spots it was diffi- 

 cult to distinguish individuals. They were silent and still, 

 making no apparent attempt at feeding. The only motion 

 I observed was when a few birds arrived and alighted 

 among them. Where they thus crowded together the 

 earth was literally black. 



It was about three-quarters of a mile from their 

 nesting-trees, but nesting had been over for more than 

 two months. This particular field had recently been 

 ploughed by steam tackle, and was the only one for a con- 

 siderable distance that had been ploughed for some time. 

 There they stood motionless, side by side, as if roosting on 

 the ground ; possibly certain beetles were numerous just 

 there (for it was noticeable that they chose the same part 

 of the field evening after evening), and came crawling up 

 out of the earth at night. 



The jackdaws, which — so soon as the rooks pack after 

 nesting and fly in large flocks — are always with them, 

 may be distinguished by their smaller size and the quicker 

 beats of their wings, even when not uttering their well- 

 known cry. Jackdaws will visit the hencoops if not close 

 to the house, and help themselves to the food meant for 

 the fowls. Poultry are often kept in rickyards, a field or 



