132 
THE ROOK. 
movements. The ringdoves will assemble in count- 
less multitudes, the finches will unite in vast as- 
semblies, and waterfowl will flock in thousands to 
the protected lake, during the dreary months of 
winter: but, when the returning sun spreads joy and 
consolation over the face of nature, their congregated i 
numbers are dissolved, and the individuals retire in , 
pairs to propagate their respective species. The I 
rook, however, remains in society the year through- ' 
out. In flocks it builds its nest, in flocks it seeks for I 
food, and in flocks it retires to roost. ;! 
About two miles to the eastward of this place are ) 
the woods of Nostell Priory, where, from time im- i 
memorial, the rooks have retired to pass the night. 
I suspect, by the observations which I have been 
able to make on the morning and evening transit of 
these birds, that there is not another roosting-place 
for, at least, thirty miles to the westward of Nostell 
Priory. Every morning, from within a few days of j 
the autumnal, to about a week before the vernal 
equinox, the rooks, in congregated thousands upon J 
thousands, fly over this valley in a westerly direction, j 
and return, in undiminished numbers, to the east, j 
an hour or so before the night sets in. In their j 
morning passage, some stop here ; others, in other ; 
favourite places, farther and farther on; now re-ji 
pairing to the trees for pastime, now resorting to the 
fields for food, till the declining sun warns those ^ 
which have gone farthest to the westward that it is| i 
time they should return. They rise in a mass, re- | 
ceiving additions to their numbers from every inter-| i 
vening place, till they reach this neighbourhood inil i 
