37^ British Cage Birds. 



old birds it is intensely resplendent with iridescent reflec- 

 tions of purple, green, and blue, especially about the neck and 

 shoulders. The legs and feet are black. 



The young birds, prior to moulting, have the entire head 

 covered with feathers, but afterwards become bare round the base 

 of the beak, the same as old birds. Sometimes, but very rarely, 

 albino and pied specimens of these birds are met with. 



Habits and Breeding. — The Eook is found in France, 

 Norway, Sweden, and other Continental countries, where it is 

 said to be migratory in habit. It is indigenous to Great 

 Britain, and gregarious in its habits. It rises early during 

 the summer, and may be seen traversing the country in search 

 of newly-ploughed fields, or lands that have been recently 

 manured, for there it finds the largest number of worms and 

 insects, on which it chiefly feeds. 



In the breeding season, these birds generally select a clump 

 of trees surrounding a mansion, or some tall trees, such as 

 beech and elms, growing near the outskirts of a plantation, in 

 which to build their nests ; but in this respect they are fre- 

 quently erratic. They mostly select the same spot year after 

 year, rarely ever leaving it. In mild, open seasons, they begin 

 to build as early as the first week in February, and may be 

 seen industriously carrying twigs in their beaks for long 

 distances. After they have completed the external structure 

 of the nest, they not infrequently pull it to pieces, and try 

 another branch in the same tree, or carry the materials to an 

 adjacent tree, especially if they are interfered with by other 

 Books. They build in the forks of the topmost branches, and 

 quarrel a good deal in the choice of sites ; some birds are 

 jealous, quarrelsome, and unsociable, and do their best to drive 

 off others that attempt to erect a nest in close proximity to 

 them. The nest is composed of dried twigs, and is lined 

 with the roots of plants, and straw, and in some cases with 

 wool. It is a huge affair, badly and carelessly constructed, 

 and rather shallow. The hen lays from three to five eggs 

 (usually four), of a pale bluish clouded green colour, blotched 

 and freckled with opaque greenish brown and dull dark grey 

 spots, and incubates about eighteen days. The cock provides 

 the hen with food during the period of incubation, and 

 relieves her at intervals for exercise. The parents feed their 

 progeny on worms of all kinds, and also on cockchafer grubs. 



