ROOKS.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR...1 SIR,—Thirteen years ago I travelled to Samarkand and back, going by Ostend and Vienna, and returning by Odessa and Berlin. The whole way from Ostend over the Continent of Europe, and through Central Asia and back, grey crows were very numerous; but I never recollect seeing a genuine rook throughout the whole journey except at one place,—viz., Bokhara. The town of Bokhara is about eight miles from the station. On the way to it (about six miles out) you pass the palace and grounds of the Emir, which are surrounded by very large and tall trees (elms, I think). Thousands of rooks congregate in these trees, and from thence provide for their living from the fields and country in the neighbourhood. Except for these, I do not think I saw a single rook throughout the whole journey until reaching England again.—I am, Sir,
Previous page
