4 
ROOK. 
year. I have never met with any unusually large bodies of Rooks on the south coast during autumn or 
winter, or an increase to the regular fraternities that inhabit the rookeries in the neighbourhood of the coast. 
In severe weather it frequently happens that a general movement of mixed multitudes of small birds takes 
place along the south coast from east to west ; and among the countless swarms of fugitives, I have on several 
occasions noticed a few scattered parties of Rooks. They were not, however, in sufficient numbers to represent 
anything approaching to even a partial migration. 
Every observer who takes an interest in our native birds must be thoroughly conversant with the breeding- 
habits of this species. Elm, oat, and beech arc perhaps the trees to which they mostly resort for nesting- 
purposes in the south ; though in the outskirts of Brighton a few broods are annually reared in both Scotch 
and silver firs. In the exposed glens of the north and west I have found them making use of stunted 
bushes of alder, and also firs bent and twisted by the constant gales. On one occasion in Caithness, after 
being banished from the rookery they inhabited, in consequence of their depredations on the . Grouse eggs the 
poor birds nested out on the open moors, trees being scarce in the neighbourhood. _ The cradle of the Book 
too well known to need minute description ; it is, however, occasionally most amusing to watch the architects 
collectin'* the materials. Though the greater portion of the sticks they make use of are picked up from the 
ground or stolen from their neighbours, many twigs are broken off the trees in the vicinity of the roo ery. 
If sma ]l or dead, the birds meet with little difficulty in detaching them, though a tough and unmans eable 
touch is now and then seised hold of. The first attempt to snap off the coveted portion having failed t 
hird°after hovering round, usually selects a fresh perch, and resolutely gripping the twig between his mandibles 
a sin tps ff endeavourmg by tie sudden strain to effect his purpose, frequently owing to his ; exertions, 
the small pieces he may already have collected are dropped; but he almost invariably returns to the attack, 
eacl^cccedins ; « with disastrous consequences to 
the “^okeriL She terrible hurricane of April ,0, IBS, must have destroyed many 
thousands of young birds in the southern counties of England. 
parts of England. I a _ manufa ctured in town during the season they arc procurable; but 
can voucllfor the^fact that ilge consignments are frequently forwarded to London from certain quarters as 
soon as the annual slaughter has taken plact . <. tliere is, however, another call-note 
The familiar caw of the Book is heard alike m town and conn y ; ‘« nce to ^ of ^ the 
which the bird occasionally utters when on wing, an i ns ear ° The extraordinary 
larger Gulls. It is usually in the early spring that I , si ing> appear to have 
noises that this curious bird produces, while at emp g ° “ er rema medin ignorance of this accomplish- 
escaped the notice of most writers. It us probab I might have » on ^ chimney ot my 
ment, bad not a certain old male peic ic( nms ° Happening early one line bright morning to 
sanctum, in order to go through Ins e ^ tl y the note of a bird, caught my ear. 
ho seated near the fireplace a most peon ^ note of the stal q iug (often to be beard 
This strange melody somewhat reson, ^ ^ ^ 0u obtaining an out-of-door view of the songster, 
ou the same spot), thougl h more £ moTt'Tecentrie antics, and at the same time 
5 notes that had first attracted my attention. 
. rp 1(Wv bc ab ic to form an idea of the performance, the singular attitudes assumed, 
* Those who have kept —es in — ^ ^ ^ aln08t identical with what I witnessed. Though somewhat similar, 
as well as the contortions gone throu 0 u, ) 
the sounds produced were, of course, more powerful. 
