ROOK. 
431 
moved in the spring- of 1827 to the trees behind New-street, Spring- 
Gardens. There was also,” says Mr. Jennings, “ for many years, a 
rookery on the trees in the churchyard of St. Dunstan’s in the East, 
a short distance from the Tower : the rooks, some years past, deserted 
that spot, owing, it is believed, to the fire that occurred at the old Cus- 
tom House ; but in the spring of 1827, they began to build again on 
the same trees.” Mr. Hone has recorded the following anecdote of 
another rookery on some large elm-trees in the college garden behind 
the Ecclesiastical Court, in Doctors’ Commons : 
“ Some years ago there were several large elm-trees in the college 
garden behind the Ecclesiastical Court, Doctors’ Commons, in which a 
number of Rooks had taken up their abode, forming, in appearance, a 
sort of convocation of aerial ecclesiastics. A young gentleman, who 
lodged in an attic, and was their close neighbour, frequently entertained 
himself with thinning this covey of black game, by means of a cross- 
bow. On the opposite side lived a curious old civilian, who, observing 
from his study, that the rooks often dropped senseless from their perch, 
or, as it may be said, without using a figure, hoppd the tivig, making 
no sign, nor any sign being made to his vision to account for the phe- 
nomenon, set his wits to work to consider the cause. It was probably 
during a profitless time of peace, and the doctor having plenty of lei- 
sure, weighed the matter over and over, till he was at length fully 
satisfied that he had made a great ornitholigical discovery, that its pro- 
mulgation would give wings to his fame, and that he was fated by 
means of these Rooks to say, 
‘ Volito vivus per ora virum.’ 
His goose-quill and foolscap were quickly in requisition, and he actually 
wrote a treatise^ stating circumstantially what he himself had seen, 
and, in conclusion, giving it as the settled conviction of his mind that 
Hooks were subject to the falling sickness / ’’^ 
At Newcastle a rookery does or did exist, at no great distance from 
the Exchange ; and it is recorded of a pair of these, after an unsuccess- 
ful attempt to establish themselves in the rookery, that they took refuge 
on the Exchange sjiire ; and though they continued to be persecuted by 
individuals from the adjacent colony, they succeeded in building a nest 
on the top of the vane, undisturbed by the noise of the populace below. 
They returned, and built their nest every year on the same place, till 
1793, soon after which the spire was taken down, A miniature en- 
Every-day Book, i. 494, 5. 
I 
