ROOK. 
CORVUS FRUGILEGUS. 
The Rook adapts itself to circumstances with the greatest equanimity, appearing as much at home among 
the grimy trees of the metropolis as in the lofty woods of some extensive park. To give a list of the localities 
in which this familiar bird may be met with is unnecessary. Though less frequent in the north, there are 
scattered colonies to he found in every county I have visited, from Caithness to Cornwall. 
Opinions differ as to the useful or destructive habits of many of our native birds, and the present species 
comes in occasionally for much abuse and also well-merited approbation. I fully believe that, for about three 
fourths of their time, Rooks, owing to the nature of their food, act the part of benefactors to the farmer. 
There is, however, no denying the fact that they now and then exact toll for the service previously 
rendered. Pew of our feathered friends are more omnivorous ; it would be difficult to find any substance, 
animal or vegetable, containing the least particle of nutriment that they would not make a meal off when 
pressed by want. 
A newly sown field of corn, wheat in particular, will suffer considerably from their visits, while potatoes, 
peas, and beans are also patronized. Their attacks on the grain when stacked also occasion no little annoy- 
ance to the owners, as wet and wind find an entrance where a commencement has been made, and in the end 
considerable loss is entailed. When food is scarce in dry seasons, Rooks are exceedingly destructive to the 
eggs or young of game : they hunt the ground continually, and do as much damage as Grey or Carrion Crows ; 
m many counties in the Highlands I have watched them while so employed— Grouse, Blackgame, Wildfowl, 
and Waders being all plundered alike. I am afraid that they can scarcely ever be held perfectly blameless, and, 
however abundant their natural food may be, an exposed nest would never be safe if once detected by their 
sharp eyes. Some years ago I was assured by the keepers of Stanmer Park, near Brighton, that these robbers 
carried off at least thirty young Pheasants from the coops before they were able to put a stop to their depreda- 
tions ; the Rooks were distinctly seen to seize them, and fly off with their plunder at once to the high trees 
where their nests were situated. On the South Downs they now and then so persistently search out the nests 
of the Norfolk Plovers that not an egg is left to be hatched in the district. The nests of these Plovers are much 
exposed, being usually placed either on the bare hill-side or concealed only by the scanty shelter of the young 
corn. While passing over the downs near Palmer in May 1872, I noticed, at the distance of less than a couple 
of hundred yards, a Rook fly down and attack the eggs of a Plover which had accidentally been driven from 
her nest. The newly fledged young of many species of small birds are also carried off. I have repeatedly seen 
them flying away with the nestlings of Larks, Pipits, and Ring-Dotterel. On one occasion I learned that a 
most impudent robbery had been perpetrated by a pair of these birds. The sufferers were a brood of young 
Larks placed in a cage, in order to be reared by their parents, the olfence being committed but a few yards 
from a cottage. On their first visit they managed to drag one of the young Larks from between the bars of the 
cage, but being detected at the next attempt they departed with the heads only of their victims. The survivin'* 
