1883-92 FEATHERED BURGLARS 253 



especially the males, present in the clear atmo- 

 sphere of my present abode. 



1 From the rook (Corvus frugilegits) I have 

 received nothing but favours. They take their 

 share in diminishing lawn pests and other insect 

 plagues ; their ways and instincts afford endless 

 interest. When I took up my abode at Sheen 

 Lodge there was in the elm wood leading there 

 from Sheen Gate a small rookery at our end. I 

 am bound to say that at the nesting season 

 complaints of being awoke and kept awake, from 

 3 a.m., were frequent and well founded ; but this 

 is the only exception to the pleasure which the 

 cawings at evening and other seasonable times 

 have given to one whose busy life, in great pro- 

 portion, is spent in London. 



' Broderip, the author of " Recreations in 

 Natural History," especially enjoyed his visits 

 at the rooks' breeding season, and the worthy 

 magistrate declared that he should unquestion- 

 ably commit certain members of the cawing 

 community for theft and burglary if they had 

 been other than feathered bipeds. The case 

 was this. A young married couple could always 

 be discriminated by the unusual activity dis- 

 played in preparing the abode for the incubator 

 and her coming brood, yet, by reason of the 

 unconscionable practice of their elders, and 

 possibly parents, they spent twice the time 

 and trouble in completing the nest than did 



