THE LADIES MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
239 
crow, and, though of the same colour, it is very different in its habits and 
economy. These birds are gregarious at all times, nestling, feeding, 
and always roosting in flocks. Rookeries are common everywhere in 
wooded countries; and they are often near the habitations of man. Even 
in London there are several rookeries. This habit, as well as living in 
societies, appears to be an instinctive precaution for mutual safety; as 
the larger and wilder birds of prey are very fond of their callow young. 
The rooks begin to make nests early in the spring ; and then it is diverting 
to observe the contests which take place among them for the possession of 
an old nest, or for a favourite station for a new one. They will even 
pilfer sticks from the absentees ; though, when the thieves are detected, 
a battle is the consequence. Sometimes the pilferers unite to pull a 
neighbours nest to pieces : and though the rightful owners fight valiantly 
in defence of their property, they are overcome by numbers, and obliged 
to relinquish the station altogether. When once settled, however, and 
though several nests are built close to each other on the same branch, 
they live afterwards in the greatest harmony. They seek their food in 
open fields and pastures; living entirely on the larvm of beetles, moths, 
and flies, which they dig out of the earth with their powerful bills. On 
this account the rooks are the most useful of all others to the farmer ; 
though few husbandmen have penetration enough to give the birds credit 
for their services. On the contrary, they are scandalised as their greatest 
enemies; merely because they appear to destroy the turf by pulling up 
the roots of some of the grasses to get at the maggot which is devouring 
both roots and stem; and also because, when the weather is so dry as to 
make the grubs descend into the earth, or so hard that the rooks cannot 
dig into it, they do, at such times, fall upon a field of wheat or barley, 
and steal and destroy without repugnance. But whose fault is this ? 
Either a little keeper should be employed, or a few rags dipped in melted 
brimstone, and stuck upon sticks in the field, which would effectually 
scare the rooks away, and thus preserve the crop. 
When the young begin to be feathered they are exceedingly clamorous for 
food; and it is as much as the old ones can do during the day to supply them, 
as they have often a considerable distance to fly to obtain what is suitable. 
On their return home with their pouchful, they are, though accompanied by 
many others, recognised by their own brood at a considerable distance 
from the nest. This is a remarkable instance of sagacity in the young ; 
as the colour and action of all the other parents are exactly like that of 
their own ; and how they identify them is unaccountable, though there is 
no doubt of the fact. Rooks are sometimes seen to vary in colour, being 
occasionally entirely white, or particoloured black and white : but this 
