ROOKS AND ROOKERIES.
L10 THE EDITOR OF TRI3 .SPROF6TOR.:1
Sra,—The suggestion contained in your interesting article on the above subject in last week's Spectator that rooks may be
in some respects changing their habits leads me to mention the following facts. There is a rather large rookery just in the centre of the suburb where I reside. At the bottom of my garden are a couple of large elm-trees, probably three hundred yards away from the general rookery. In one of these trees a pair of rooks some years ago used to nest, but for the last three or four years they left this tree. Since then, in the building season, I have noticed a pair of rooks come regularly to these trees, break off twigs and carry them away towards the general rookery. This year a pair of starlings built their nest in apparently a hollow fork of onn of these trees. I have observed a rook frequently hovering about them, apparently watching what was going on. A few days ago, during my absence, Master Rook was Been to descend upon this nest, deliberately devour the eggs, and tear the nest to pieces. The poor starlings were in a deplorable state of excitement. Now, however, they seem to have got over their grief, and I fancy they are building again in another tree. I am not aware whether this is a new habit on the part of these curious and interesting birds or not; certainly it is not a phase of their character which redounds to their credit.
—I am, Sir, &c., E. M.
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