Rook, or Corvus frugilegus, L. a well-known British bird, differing but little in size or colour from the common Crow ; excepting in its whitish bill, which the former frequently thrusts into the ground, in search of grubs and earth-worms ; whence it is destitute of feathers as far as the eyes.—Such distinction is the more necessary, because these birds frequently suffer on account of their resemblance to the crow : indeed, the rook, instead-of being persecuted by the wanton sportsman, ought to be protected by every husbandman, who is sensible of the incalculable damage done to the fruits of the earth, by chafers, caterpillars, etc. notwithstanding the numbers that are destroyed by these industrious birds. They likewise feed on all sorts of grain, perhaps to some inconvenience to the farmer ; but such in-jury is doubtless amply repaid by their services, in extirpating the pernicious grub, which, in some seasons, destroys whole crops of corn.

Rooks are gregarious birds, sometimes assembling in numerous flights; the places they frequent during the breeding-season, are called rookeries ; for this purpose, they generally select a large cluster of the tallest trees, and groves, near the habitations of men ; sometimes even in the midst of populous cities. In these aerial abodes, they estab-lish a kind of fraternity, and exclude all strangers from becoming denizens of the spot.

Early in the spring, rooks begin to construct their nests; the ex-ternal part of which is formed of sticks, but it is internally lined with fibrous roots; and the whole

K is regularly and substantially disposed. Their eggs are some what similar to those of crows, though rather less, and the spots are larger ; the whole process of incubation, as well as feeding their young, is alternately performed by both the male and female.

The flesh of young rooks, when baked into pies, at an early season, is esteemed good eating, nay, little inferior to that of pigeons; but, with such intention, they ought to be previously deprived of their skins, as otherwise their flavour will be rank, and the taste uncom-monly bitter.