COUNTRY LIFE
A vouNG rook, very curiously marked, was brought to me t other day after a thinning of the rookery. Its head was black, b both wings were marked by a regular and very pretty grey patter as if it were descended from a hoodie. The little thing was a s survival ; and for myself I cannot believe that the destruction of rookery, which is a most pitiable sight, is justified on even t narrowest view of economy. The contribution of the rook to t balance of nature was assessed with singular thoroughness ma years ago by the Hungarians, who are far from being a sentiment people. The verdict was that the rook is one of the farmer's ve best friends, until its numbers become excessive, when it m do harm, not so much to crops as to ground-nesting game. Ev where a certain amount of-wheat is dug up, the destruction of gru more than compensates. Except for the plover and the pheasa I should put the rook at the very top of the list of birds whi destroy noxious grubs. At present there seems to be an aim savage campaign for extermination.
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