The Rook. 



379 



They rarely have more than one nest in a season ; but in 

 mild, open weather, when they have gone to nest early, a 

 few pairs, more ardent than the rest, have been known to 

 have two. 



Books usually retire from the domain which they select for 

 the propagation of their species, to some well-wooded locality, 

 until the moulting sickness is over, when they again return 

 as occasional visitors. In October, they frequently commence 

 to repair their nests, or strengthen them, before the turbulent 

 and destructive winds of winter arrive. At this period of 

 the year they seek shelter in well-wooded plantations with 

 plenty of dense undergrowth, which affords them protection 

 during inclement weather. They roost in wild nut bushes, 

 or on the ground, beneath projecting, uncovered roots of trees, 

 or overhanging boughs, or in other sheltered spots. They 

 rarely go to roost until the grim shadows of night cast a 

 veil of darkness all around. 



Methods of Captuee. — Eooks are cautious, knowing birds, 

 and difficult to ensnare. In winter, during severe weather, 

 when the ground is covered with snow, clear a small, square 

 spot of ground, adjacent to a wood where they are known to 

 roost, turn it up with a spade, and scatter a few oats over 

 it; then place on it some gins, or horse-hair nooses, made 

 three or four-ply in thickness, securing them to stout cord, and 

 fastening them to stakes driven into the ground ; a few heads 

 of oats, wheat, or barley, must be so placed as to hide the 

 stakes and twine as much as possible, and a close watch kept, 

 in a place screened from observation, for, though hunger 

 makes these birds bold, their natural timidity never forsakes 

 them. 



Food and Treatment. — Rooks, in the wild state, feed on 

 worms of all descriptions, and are particularly partial to cock- 

 chafer grubs ; they eat slugs and insects of all sorts, and also 

 grain. In confinement, they may be fed on worms and 

 maggots, groats, and soaked bread, or on a compound com- 

 posed of equal parts of barley meal, oatmeal, and flour, made 

 into a kind of porridge ; they will also pick bones, and eat 

 almost any scraps. 



Rearing the Young. — The young intended to be reared 

 by hand should be taken at the age of ten days, and fed on 

 soaked bread, worms, maggots, or pieces of boiled sheep's or 



