a HOOK.
young one was l.hen removed to a safer spot, and the dead bodies thrown out. The Hooks, however, were not
to be balked of llieir prey, as they shortly returned and were distinctly seen to carry off the headless carcasses
from the ditch into which they had been flung.
At all seasons of the year Rooks may ho met with along the sea-shore ; in some districts they resort
regularly to the mudllals at low water, In quest of marine worm-, diminutive crabs, shrimps, or any small lis.li.
On lireyden mudllals 1 repeatedly watched large bodies collecting all through llie summer, and on the Sussex
shingle-hunks small parties are constantly to be seen. They are especially busy in the latter locality during
the mackerel season, huge quantities of tlsh being captured by means of seines shot by boat- and then drawn
ashore. After a haul, numbers of small lish aad shrimps are scattered about on the shingle, mixed up in the
weeds dragged in by the net. Tor these the Rooks keep a sharp look out, eagerly darting down and claiming
their share as soon as the men have left in search of a fresh shoal. Though intent at the time on sea tish,
these cunning birds are by no means so unobservant as to let a chance id' a irood substantial meal escape them.
While on the beach between Shori'liam and Laneiug on June 30, ISSt), I remarked from twenty to thirty
Itooks closely searching over the heaps of refuse lying on the shingle. The men who effected the capture had
• hhdruwu some distance to the top of the ridge of beach, and having sent for a liberal supply of bread and
cheese, proceeded to enjoy their well-earned repast. A commencement had scarcely been made when another
shoal of tish broke up on the surface, within a few hundred yards. As there appeared a good chance, the food
was at once relinquished, and the crew started in pursuit of the mackerel. On returning an hour later, it was
evident that the Hooks, who had biseu observed on the spot, bad discovered and cleared off the whole of the
bread and cheese, a few crumbs being all that remained.
In severe winters, when the ground is covered deep with snow, or hard with frost, these birds are frequently
put to cruel straits to procure food. At such times they will attack any weakly bird, or one that is partly
disabled by wounds. I have also seen them rising from dead and decomposing carcasses, ami large lloeks,
considerably iu excess of those usually observed, betake themselves to the sea-shore, where a scanty living on
shelllish attd other ollal is picked up. When scraps and crumbs have been thrown out to the starving swarms
of diminutive feathered pensioners that congregate below the windows during protracted storms, I have
frequently noticed the Itooks so emboldened by want, that they would dash down at once and carry off all the
smaller portions; anil it was only by providing a quantity of pieces too heavy for them to lift, that those for
whom the feast was intended could enjoy their share.
I had previously been of opinion that flesh was only consumed by this species when their regular food
was scarce, either in the depth of winter or during the prevalence of dry winds. A couple of Itooks,
however, attracted my attention while driving between Brighton and Shorcham, on March 80, 1882, the
weather at the time being exceedingly mild. The birds were busily engaged with some object by the side
of a heap of mould, within a short distance of the roadside; and on proceeding to the spot and investi^at iug
the nature of their prey, I discovered that they were tearing the meat from some bones, dragged from uuder the
covering of the soil. Their repulsive banquet (suspicious certainly, but possibly the remains of some ewe that
bad died) appeared particularly suited to their tastes, as they refused to move above twenty yards on my
approach, and returned immediately and commenced again as soon as iny hack was turned.
It Is probable that Books occasionally convey a supply of dry materials to their young, in order to assist
ills ml kin Ou May 17, ISbi, I carefully examined an uld bird, shot on purpose to ascertain the food it was
carrying, and discovered it had six small land-snails, each about the size of a sixpenny piece, as well a mouth,
or, rather, a pouch, full id' dead and perfectly dried worms. The snail-shells were all untenanted and empty, with
the exception of one. which was full of mould, while the dead worms were so brittle that they had broken up
into scraps of about an inch in length. The entire mouthful contained but little of a nourishing character,
w it li the exception of the lower portion of the supply of worms, which the moistnre iu the bird's throat had
HOOK. 8
reduced to a consistency somewhat resembling pot led beef or bam. It certainly was not scarcity of food
that caused such an apparently unpalatable mouthful lo he collected, as on examining the field from which
the bird had risen when shot, I discovered several lively worms still straggling in a furrow in which they
had recently been disturbed bv the plough. Willi but few exceptions, the large number of Books and Jackdaws
frequenting the ground were then engaged in searching over a portion of the laud which, being newly sown
with tares, had undergone both harrowing and rolling. It i- probable thai the dead worms had been collected
in this pert; after having been cut and disabled by the number of tennis passing over the ground, the
heat of the sun would soon dry them. I could find no signs that the tares bad suffered iu the slightest
Grubs of various kinds and many noxious insects also form a large portion of the food at Ibis species, the
crops necessarily being freed by their attentions from a great source of danger. In parts of the eastern
counties I discovered that farmers brought grave charges against the Itooks for the destruction of turnips,
one of my informants stating that to his knowledge nearly one third of a field of seven acres had been
destroyed by these birds during a single morning. The attack is declared to be made soon after the rows are
cleaned and thinned out, the crop being supposed to suffer most in dry weather. When, however, it is generally
allowed that the birds only drag up the young plants in order to get at the wircworm, it is a question whether
any really healthy roots are affected by their depredations. I have often observed large parlies of Books busily
engaged ou the South Downs tcuriuir up the short turf, and ou examining the spot have ascertained that the
roots were loosened or removed in patches over a considerable extent of ground. Though apparently destroying
the grass, they were simply seeking out the grubs at work below the surface and cllectuully ruining the pasture
The birds are doubtless guided in their search by the want of vigour in the herbage that is attacked by the
insects. Dining the winter of 1882-83, and throughout the following spring, a few birds occasionally settled
on a marshy spot near the sea-coast between Shorcham and Lancing, and in a most energetic manner dragged
up large patches of long coarse grass by the roots. Tor several months I remarked their work on an acre or
two of ground, but was unable to procure a specimen so as to ascertain the peculiar grub or worm attracting
them to this spot. The benefits conferred ou agriculturists by Rooks are now generally well known, and
there is little fear that such unfounded charges as were formerly brought against this useful species will
again be put forward.
I find the following iu my notes, under dale May C, 187* :—" Wind south-west, weather fine and still:
numbers of Rooks tumbling in the air. This ]terformauce is iu some parts considered a sign of rain.
Whether there is the slightest truth or not in this old saying, the rain certainly fell within a few hours after
a dry period of several weeks."
Numbers of Rooks arrive ou our eastern coast during autumn ; I have often met with large fights in
the North Sea, evidently making their way straight for land. Itwas seldom that they flew in straggling parties
after the manner of Grey Crows; those seen singly appeared to have fallen out of the ranks from fatigue.
After a gale of wind from the south-west, it was no uncommon occurrence to pass several floating dead on
the water between twenty and thirty miles from laud. I also received a few wings from the light-ships oil' the
east coast during the winter months, the birds having fallen disabled on deck after striking the lamps.
Raving failed to observe them on their return journey in the spring, or obtained any wings from the lightships
at that period, I am ignorant whether they take up their residence in this country, or again return to
the north of Europe ; it is possible that a few, at least, of our visitors remain with us and assist in founding
those new colonies from time to time recorded.
In the opinion of certain authors a partial migration of our native birds takes place towards the south
on the approach of winter. If such is the case, the number of those that leave our shores must, I imagine,
be small and composed for the most part of the migrants from across the North Sea or of young birds of the