27 
the grey markings become permanent. See “ Birds of the West 
of Scotland,” where the question of unity is more fully dwelt upon. 
The Rook (Corvus frugilegus). 
Abundant. Recent discussions in agricultural quarters have 
placed this bird in a somewhat doubtful position. That rooks 
commit mischief cannot, we think, be called in question; but that 
they also do great service, in devouring noxious larvae and other 
farm insect-pests, is equally true. The question is, on which side 
does their daily habit preponderate 1 ? The following fact, commu¬ 
nicated to an Edinburgh newspaper during a late controversy on 
this point, seems to show that their appearance on newly-sown 
fields is not necessarily associated with bird damages:—“I put a 
boy,” says the writer, “ to keep them off a field of six acres sown 
with wheat in October. The season was wet and cold, so the boy 
got under a tree in the corner, made his little fire, and enjoyed 
himself. So did the rooks on every part of the field except that 
within stone-throw of the corner. In this portion of the field the 
wheat was wretched; but wherever the rooks had eaten up the 
slug or the wire-worm, the crop was plentiful.” 
The Jackdaw (Corvus monedula). 
Very abundant in both counties, frequenting old castles, rook¬ 
eries, and rocky headlands, such as the Mull of Galloway and Bur¬ 
row Head. In both the last-named localities it is feared that it has 
been the means of nearly exterminating the chough. Dr Ander¬ 
son shot a specimen which had its mandibles crossed like those of 
a loxia. The bird is now in the University Museum, Glasgow. 
The Magpie (Pica caudata). 
This beautiful bird has of late years been very much shot down 
in game-preserving quarters. We were lately interested in observ¬ 
ing as many as twelve or fourteen magpies, on the farm of Little¬ 
ton, near Girvan, where no keeper had been employed for some 
years. These birds kept strictly within the limits of their asylum. 
We have been informed, however, that a few weeks ago the keeper 
on the surrounding estate (Culzean), invaded their sanctuary, and 
shot several birds after having destroyed the nests. 
