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The Rook Cornix frugilego.
Numb. XXII.
I T'S' Weight was one Pound and three Ounces; Length from the Tip o f the Bill
to the End. of. the Tail was twenty Inches ; the Diftance between the Wings
when extended thirty eight Inches; it hath no Craw, but inftead thereof the
Gullet below the Bill is dilated into a kind o f Bag, wherein it brings Meat to feed its
Young.
In the Old ones of this Sort the Feathers about the Root of the Bill as far as the
Eyes are worn off, by often thrufting the Bill into the Ground, to fetch out Worms
and other Infeds ; fo that tfye Flefh thereabouts is bare, and appears of a whitiih Colour,
by which Note it is to be diftinguifhed from the common Crow.
It differs alfo from the Crows, fecondly, in that it is fomewhat bigger: thirdly,'
in the purple Splendour or Glofs o f its Feathers. Fourthly, In that it is gregarious,
both flying and breeding, in ..Companies. '
The Number o f beam Feathers in each Wing is twenty, o f which the fourth is
the longeft, ■ being by Meafure ten Inches arid a quarter; the Shafts of the middle
Wing-Feathers end in Briftles or Spines;" the Tail is feven Inches and a half long,
made up o f twelve Feathers; the exteriour whereof are a little ihorter than the middle
ones.
The Bill, from the Tip to the Angles o f the Mouth, is two Inches and a half
long; the Noftrils round ; the Tongue-black, horny, arid cloven at the End; the
hind Toe hath a large Ifrong Claw j the outmoll fore Toe is joined to the middle-^
molt, as in the Crow.
It hath a large Gall ; ihort blind Guts like the Crow of about half an Inch long^
the Stomach is great and mufculous, as in gtanivorous Birds; the Guts wide and va-
rioufly reflefted. They are molt greedy of Corn; yet feed alfo on Earth-Worms,
and other Infe&s, refraining from Garbage and Carrion: They build many together
upon high Trees about Gentlemen’s Houles, who are much delighted with the Noife
they make in breeding Time : Both Gock and Hen fit by turns; their Eggs are like
the Crows, but leffer, fpotted with greater Spots, efpecially about the blunt End.
• When the Rooks build, one o f the Pair fits always by to watch the Nefi: till it is fi-
nifhed, whilft the other goes about to fetch Materials, elfe if both go and leave the Neff
unfiniihed (as fomctimes they venture to do) their Fellow-Rooks, ’ere they return
again, will have robbed and carried to their leveral Nefts alt their Sticks, and whatever
elfe they had got together. Hence perhaps, the Word Rooking, with us, is
ufed for cheating or abufing.
Thefe Birds are noifome to the Corn and Grain, fo that the Husbandmen are forced
to employ Children with Hooting, Crackers, and Rattles of Metal, and fina!'y with
throwing o f Stones to feare them away | fuch as have no Servants or Children to
ip arc for fuch a Purpofe, make ufe of other Devices; either of Mills made with Sails
to be turned with the Wind, making a continual Snappirg as they turn, wherewith
they fright the Birds, or by placing Seare-Crows in the Fie.ds dreffed in
country Habits.
G "tht