ROOKS. 
197 
A Rook, which we kept for some time, was, after a night’s 
fast, fed entirely upon oats, of which it ate, in twenty-four 
hours, two ounces, of sixteen ounces to the pound; while 
another, under similar circumstances, consumed two ounces 
and a half of bread. 
This certainly would hear strongly against them; was there 
nothing to he said in mitigation ; hut it should he remem- 
bered, that the above consumption is founded upon the sup- 
position that Rooks live entirely upon grain, which, so far 
from being the case, is very much the reverse; for they prefer 
an insect diet, if not altogether, at least to a great extent. 
And even with respect to grain, they will not willingly eat 
it, except in a particular state, preferring it when somewhat 
softened, and more particularly during the time of its under- 
going the natural malting process, when it not only swells, 
but becomes soft, with an addition of about two-thirds of 
gum and sugar to the small quantity it before contained. 
During this critical time, the fresh-sown crop is undoubtedly 
in some peril, as well as a short time before harvest, when the 
soft and sweet ears of green grain offer irresistible tempta- 
tion to a robbery, of which it is to be feared they must be 
found guilty ; and no money can be more profitably laid out, 
at such critical moments, than the daily wages of a few boys, 
for the sole purpose of frightening them away. 
Fresh-planted potatoes are also, for a time, in jeopardy ; 
but when they have fairly sprouted, the Rook’s depredations 
are suspended till the season of digging them up, when a 
trifling loss may be sustained by their carrying off a few 
of such smaller ones as they can conveniently grasp in their 
bills. 
Such are the depredations which may be fairly laid to their 
account; but, nevertheless, we feel quite certain, that on 
striking a fair balance, the advantage will be in favour of 
preserving the Rooks, and that if every nest were pulled to 
pieces, the farmers would soon do all in their power to induce 
the old birds to rebuild them ; finding out, when too late, that 
their crops might suffer the fate which befel an entire district 
in Germany, and which was once nearly deprived of its corn- 
