246 
ROOKS. 
with colonies settling in adjacent trees. It has 
been said that Rooks usually prefer elm-trees for 
building, and it was observed, that in a mingled 
grove of horse-chestnuts and elms, at Hawley, in 
Kent, not a single nest was ever built in the horse- 
chestnut-trees, though the elms were full of them. 
In the above instance, however, they certainly gave 
the oak a preference, leaving an elm-tree close at 
hand untenanted. These birds, like the rest of their 
species, return at a particular time in Autumn ; and 
for a few days, seem to be very busy about their 
nests, as if preparing them for immediate use, and 
then desert them for the winter ; no reason has been 
discovered for this singular habit, peculiar it is 
believed to Rooks. May it not probably arise from 
an instinctive feeling, that as the nests will be 
wanted early in the Spring, a few repairs may be 
requisite to strengthen and prevent their being 
shattered or blown to pieces by the storms of winter ; 
and that according to the homely proverb of “ the 
stitch in time saving nine," they may thus be saving 
themselves a greater degree of labour than they 
could easily bestow, when the trees are again to be 
occupied ? Most other birds are under no necessity 
of looking after these autumnal repairs, as they do 
not use the same old nests, but build entirely new 
ones. 
Rooks, we have seen, will occasionally remove, 
and colonize other situations at a distance from their 
late frequented abodes ; and as some persons may 
wish to establish a rookery in their own immediate 
neighbourhood, it has been said, that by looking out 
for a Magpie's nest near the wished-for spot, and 
