17 NOVEMBER 1917, Page 26

ANOTHER TAME ROOK.

(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")

Sta,—Having kept a tame rook, I have been interested in the letters which have appeared in the Spectator, and am curious to know whether your correspondents noticed in their birds one very remarkable peculiarity which my rook, and also one belong- ing to a relation, had. Both these birds would play with fire. Nothing pleased my rook more than a lighted cigarette-end or match. He would first dance round it, then pounce on it, and, spreading his wings, would hold the cigarette or match under them, as if fumigating himself. The other rook I mention would strike matches by nipping the heads with his bill. Both birds behaved in other respects very much as your correspondents