Continent, the result of which has been the "Ojxinion tHat farmers
do wrong in destroying Rooks, Jays,'- Sparrows, and,
indeed, birds in general, on their farms, particularly where
there are orchards. In our own country; on sotrfo very large
farms in Devonshire, the -proprietors determined, a few summers
ago, to try the result of offering a great reward for the
heads of Rooks; -but the issue proved destructive <feO ’ the
farms, for nearly the .whole of the -crops failed"for three Site*
cessive' years, and they have ‘since been forced to import
Rooks, and other birds, to restock their farms -with.” < A
similar experiment was made a few years ago in a northern
county; particularly in 'reference 'to- Rooks, but with no
better success; the farmers were obliged to reinstate' -the
Rooks' to sswltftheir letups* The ‘ subject was "facetiously
commented upon in a pamphlet :-by James ‘Stuart Menteath,
Esq. of Glosebum,
The food of the Rook, as-£teady--shown;' eoflsistSiprinci-
pally of worms and various' sorts mf insects, which," from the
numbers ofï the birds themselves, must be consumed^to ari
enormous extent. During tbe farmer’s seed time;; the news
Iy-sown grain requires to foe watched - to keep the Rooks
away; they '-will also occasionally steal - a *fow cMMes^ Ot
green walnuts, and _in severe "winters -peck "hotó' ill turnips
or potatoes,; There is -reason to^ bolrésse. rthat the
Visits of Rooks to turnips ] may be in some degree beneficial;
Farmers have suffered great injury of late years, particularly
in Hertfordshire and Essex, from the attack of a large brown
grub, the larva of a very common grey moth; called the com
rustic, Agrotis segeium of entomologists; .from four to seven
of which I have known to Jbe found eating their way into the
biilb of one turnip.
Thé Rook Inhabits wooded and s cultivated districts.- r rAs
early in the year as the month of February these~birds are
seen to visit their nests of the preceding year;'which are
usually placed thickly together in the tops, of tall trees, sometim
e s l®4 the, number of seven or eight nests on the same
-'-tree, and generallytelecting such trees as have been planted
•to-form avenues, or otherwise ornamental as timber, and in
•the- vicinity of inhabited mansions,.-; or. other buildings. In
March,, .and usually about the^second week of that month,
-the -Rooks begin -to- repair the-Jnests for their use, and some
UiewtfnestS' are b^fc by the-young birds of- the previous year.
TheSeare formed u f twigs; >and lined with grass and fibrous
•roots'.' j While-thelmests are in progress, considerable clamour
'•prevails '.at.#imps,, among the, birds, which appears to arise
-fronr-attemB-ts made to^ob^0ne*. another of the materials em-
pfo||edj in building; and?it is observed that while a nest is
-dn jprogwesSy.. oinet of -the feathered proprietors remains near it
to guard it-.against? intruders, and its mate .fetches'^whatever
-may be next wanting to proceed with ; it. ihas laJsu been re-
-fiseatedl^iBO^ced^hat if a..pair of? Rooks attempt©, build
their nest in a'.tree that .was previously unoccupied by a nest,
/.and? at a-ddstan'Ce from theg main body, the other Rooks
invariablydesitroytihe nest. The-reason for this is not very
pbsM^%ttefeesS”intended as a punishnaenfe-tol the separatists
for their . want of sociability. The Rook lays four or five
eggs;|f©f a pale greenish ground colour, blotched over with
dark greenish brown ; the-length- one inch eight lines, by one
inehtwp limessfebreadth. j|
During the period of incubation, the male feeds the female
constantly, and occasionally takes her place upon the eggs.
Both birds labour incessantly ta«.support their (young when
hatched, and maybe seen, early and late,,collecting food for
them' in the Various modea-aAready described, the dilatable skin
under the tongue ^distended with a conspicuous mass, which is
thus* softened, and renderedusuitable to young and delicate organs.
The-.young Rooks are able to fly by the end of May, or
the.beginning, of June, and follow their parents to grass-fields,
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