ROOK . — Corvus frugilegus . 
The Rook is, perhaps, the best known among the British members of the 
Crow tribe. It may be known, even on the wing, from the common Crow, by 
the naked white skin about the eyes. 
This bird feeds mostly on insects, grubs, and worms, and is very useful in 
killing these destructive creatures. It is very fond of the grub of the cockchaffer, 
a great fat, whitish creature, which lives under the ground, and eats the roots of 
grasses and other plants. It also eats multitudes of the wire-worms, which, if 
allowed to increase, without some such check, would destroy many a fine crop of 
wheat. 
The Rook also feeds upon berries and various fruits, being especially fond of 
acorns, and having a curious habit of burying them in the earth before eating 
them, by which means, no doubt, many a noble oak-^ree is planted. It also eats 
walnuts, and is fond of driving its bill into them, and so taking them from 
the tree. The cones of the Scotch fir are also favourite food with the Rook, 
which seizes them in its beak, and tries to pull them from the bough by main 
force ; but if it should fail in this attempt, it drags the bough downwards, and 
then lets it spring up with a sudden jerk, so as to shake off the cones. 
Some farmers think that the Rook does harm to their fields, by eating the seed 
and young corn, and kill it whenever they are able. 
