196 
ROOKS. 
When viewed together, a further distinction will he seen 
between the Kook and the common Crow, in the glossy 
colours of their plumage; that of the Kook being more 
inclined to a rich purple, whereas that of the Crow is of a 
greenish blue. There is one other supposed distinctive mark, | 
which we shall mention, merely because we believe it does 
not exist, namely, that the Kook has a pouch under its chin, 
in which it can carry a full supply of food for its young. 
It is perfectly true that Kooks appear to have such an 
appendage, which, in the Spring-time, is particularly con- 
spicuous, when they may he seen flying with a swelling under : 
the throat, of the size of a Pigeon’s egg; hut closer ob- 
servers have discovered that in the Crow, Jackdaw, &c., there 
is the same elasticity and pliability of the skin, and that 
they not only can, but do often take in a provision of food, j 
which swells the upper part of the throat out to a consider- 
able size; though, owing to the grey colour of the Kook’s 
chin, this swelling is more apparent. 
We now come to a more important question respecting 
Kooks, in the settlement of which the world is much 
divided. Are they beneficial or injurious to man? Is 
the farmer a gainer or a loser, by being subjected to the 
daily visits of two or three hundreds of these birds from a 
rookery ? 
In former days, there can he no question of public 
opinion being entirely against them, and that the destruc- 
tion of Kooks was regular and systematic, — an inference j 
which may be fairly drawn from the following entry amongst 
certain presentments concerning the parish of Alderley, in 
Cheshire, in 1598, being the fortieth year of Queen Eliza- 
beth’s reign : “We find that there is no Crownett in the 
parish, a payne that one be bought by the charge of the 
parish.” 
As in most cases, so in this, we are inclined to think that 
a great deal may be said on both sides; for, as the Kook 
cannot be altogether acquitted of the charge of doing some 
harm, so neither is he to be found guilty of doing nothing 
but mischief. We will examine, first, the unfavourable side. 
