(j ROOK.
however, being forthcoming. It at lengtb left the adult aial proeeeileil to hunt for itself. Again, on the 22nd, I
Hatched aoolher keeping company with an adult, in much the same manner ; and on the latter taking wing, it
was followed at once by the younger bird. As in (he former case, the adult took not the slightest notice of the
immature bird vt hen it approached. In e\ cry ease I was sufficiently close to see that (be plumage was as bright
and glossy as that of the adults ; this, of course, would not have been the ease had they been young birds of
the year,' hatched at an earlier date than usual. That Itooks with black bristles over the bills were to 1« met
with iti the hroad-distriet of Norfolk during May 1^71 is well impressed on my memory. "While watching for
two Mark Crows breeding in a small plantation, I shot a couple of black-beaked Itooks as they crossed over
my hiding-place beneath the nest, and under the impression that I had obtained the rightful owners, seal oil'
the pair at once for preservation. It was not till rccob iog word from the taxidermist to whom my specimens
had heou forwarded that T became aware of the ridiculous error.
Though Itooks, at times, if not invariably, retain the bristles over the beak till the second year, it is quite
possible to distinguish them from Crows by a few moments' examination. The interior of the mouth of the
lllack Crow is at all times a pale flesh; the month of the Rook, though a drtp flesh in the juvenile
stage, has assumed the slate-colour of the adult before the bird is a twelvemonth old. If examined in the
sunlight, the plumage of the Hook is considerably more glossy, a brilliant blue pervading the feathers on
the head, neck, and back. Though the Crow will he found to exhibit far less lustre, a dark purple bloom
at times is visible. There is in addition a faint and indescribable odour I hat hangs about the latter lard, which,
though by no means so strong as the scent of the Fulmer or Oannet, leaves no donbt in the mind of one who
has once "felt " it as to the identity of the specimen. The elaws and talons of the Crow are more powerful
than those of the Hook ; this difference, however, is scarcely discernible without comparison.
From information lately gathered from the skipper of a trading-vessel (ait old punt-uiari well aeqiiatute 1
with birds), I consider it is possible that young R.ioks may leave the British Islands and take up their
residence for a time on the continent in greater numbers than we generally suppose. I also learned from a
couple of gunners n ho laid passed some considerable time shooting on the opposite coast, that during autumn
and early winter flocks of Itooks were met with, composed, as far as they were able to judge, almost, if not
entirely, of young birds. For these statements, of course, I am not able to vouch ; I simply record the facts as
they were told me while conversing on sporting matters.
I am ignorant whether scientific naturalists can inform us with certainty as to the age at which the
Bonk commences to breed ; no remarks on tins subject can he found in any works 1 have examined. As far
as I am to jud^e from personal observations, it appears probable that this species does not arrive at maturity
before the third year—i. e. does not pair and nest till it has arrived at the age of two years.
J A C K D A W .
CORVIJS MONSBULA.
IN almost every town 1 have passed through, between Inverness and Penzance, 1 recognizee tuts species as a
resident. The wildest districts are also resorted to. Like his constant companion the Rook, this bvely bird
adapts himself to circumstances, and seems as much at his case in the midst of the noise and bustle of a
city ns in the lonely retirement of some lofty precipice among the iukuid mountains or on the rocks in the
neighbourhood of tbc sea-coast.
Jack is generally supposed to be a mischievous rogue; but I bad always believed bis character, like tliat
of another black party, was not so bad as it was depicted. One summer, however, when living in Perthshire,
I required a young bird of this species, in order to compare with the young of the Grey Crow; and oil
examining some nests I discovered the shells of dozens of Grousccggs which had been destroyed. The
remains of the eggs were scattered over the ledges, and also in the cracks anil crevices of the rocks among the
nests, plainly showing that the robbers had, in some instances at least, conveyed their plunder to their
quarters. It was too late that season to do much good by exteruiinatiug the colony, as the mischief was
already accomplished. Early the next spring I took forcible measures in prevent them from brccdiuLr in their
old haunts; and the follow iug season the Grouse on the adjoining beat were nearly doubled. The whole of the
ground within about a mile of the rocks where the Jackdaws nested bad till now been perfectly worthless,
never more than a few pair of barren birds being found there. In order to prevent these mischievous brutes
returning to the eorrie they frequented, it was necessary lo he continually on the walch ; and numbers were
killed before they took the hint that llieir presence was not required. At last tin* survivors moved to a
fresh station further up the glen ; but I believe that in a few years Ihey gradually reappeared at their old (jnatters.
1 never delected Jackdaws doing much harm to game in England, though I have been as-ured by
shepherds and keepers that they occasionally managed lo search out the early Partridges' nests on the downs
in the south. This charge is probably correct; hul, like their cousins the Books, they effect an immense
amount of good ; and, ir weighed in the balance, I have not the slightest doubt thai the benefits they confer
would more than compensate for the taxes they levy on the game-preserver nod farmer.
The greatest injury and annoyance lhat is caused by these birds may, I think, be ascribed to their
pertinacity in choosing as breeding-places situations where their nests are particularly undesirable. Chimneys
ore frequently blocked up by the immense collections of sticks they bring together; and Ihc quantity of litter
they carry into the towers of churches and other buildimrs at limes seems almost incredible. Great numbers
resorted many years ago to the ruins of the disused portion of Battle Abbey, near Hastings; and here they
caused considerable damage to the conservatories and forcing-houses in the gardens. On some of the glass
they managed to throw down old pieces of slooe, mortar, and other refuse that they scratched out w hen clearing
their quarters on commencing operations in the spring. On other parts Ihey continually dropped slicks and
twigs that they were bringing to form their uesls. To drive them away in any manner except by constant