ROOK, Comas fruggegus, a species of crow (q.v.), very common in the southern parts of Britain, and found in many parts of Europe and Asia, even to Japan; about the same size with the common or carrion crow, but easily distinguished from it, even at a distance, by its color, which is a glossy, deep-blue black, in certain aspects grayish. On a nearer view, a more notable distinction is found in the naked warty skin at the base of the bill, extending back rather beyond the eyes, and pretty far down on the throat. Still more different are the habits of the birds, the common crow frequenting lonely situations, and preying much on carrion; the rook choosing rather the neighborhood of human habita tions, 'and seeking its food, both animal and vegetable, chiefly in cultivated fields. Moreover, whilst the ,common crow is solitary, the rook is gregarious; and very large companies often assemble in rookeries, making their nests in close proximity, generally in tall trees, the same tree often sustaining many nests. So far are they from disliking the companionship of man, that it is not uncommon for rooks to build their nests in the trees which grow in the midst of great cities. A tree even in Cheapside has been occu pied by rooks' nests. Few cities or large towns in Britain are without rookeries, some times of considerable magnitude. The smoke seems to be disregarded by the birds. The rook is nowhere more abundant than in England and the s. of Scotland. hut it becomes rare in the northern parts of Scotland, and is not to be seen in Orkney and Shetland; probably, however, not on account of climate, but from want of trees. Sometimes, indeed, rooks have been known to make their nests in steeples, vanes, etc.. but rarely. They have been observed to avoid with peculiar caution trees which are decaying and likely soon to be blown over—perhaps, however, on account of the state of their twigs—and trees that are marked on the trunk for cutting down. They are notable for the care with which they guard against the approach of danger when they are feeding in fields, a few solitary rooks perched on trees, palings, or the like, being ready to give the raw of alarm to the often very numerous flock. They are also notable for their dread of a gun, the danger of which they seem to know; so that a man without a gun may approach them much more nearly than a man who carries a gun, and even a stick lifted up is apt to excite their alarm: It is also commonly believed in some dis tricts that they know Sunday, and are less timid of the approach of man on that day than on other days of the week. A gig or carriage may approach them much more nearly than a man on foot, and they are very indifferent about the passage of a railway train. It is interesting also to observe how soon they become familiarly acquainted with
scarecrows. The nests of rook are formed of twigs, lined with grass and fibrous roots; generally containing four or five eggs, of a pale greenish color, blotched with dark greenish-brown. During the nett-making time, rooks rob each other in a remarkable manner, and prodigious quarrels arise in rookeries on this account. Any pair attempt ing to found a separate colony on a tree far apart, are apt to be as.ailed by the whole force of the rookery, and the nest pulled to pieces, its materials of course being carried off.
Rookeries are sometimes of great size, and immense flocks of rooks are often to be seen feeding together in fields, or darkening the sky in their outward or homeward flight. Farmers very often complain of them for rooting up grass and young corn. and for injury to young potatoes, turnips, etc.; but on the other hand, it is urged that they are of very great use by eating up wire-worms, cock-chafer grubs, and other insect lame, slugs, etc., and that the grass pulled by them is very often that of which larvae have already devoured the roots. The truth appears to be that rooks in moderate numbers are very useful; but that it is possible to protect them too much, until their multitudeg become a nuisance in a neighborhood, the insufficient .quantity of their favorite food compelling them to other resources not so agreeable to the farmer; and at least iu such circumstances they certainly devour large quantities of It has been supposed that the naked space at the base of the bill of the rook is in consequence of its habit of digging in the ground, anti in support of this view it is urged that this space is feathered in the young bird; but it is found to become naked even in rooks caged front the beginning of their life, and there are numerous other argumenti against the supposition. The naked space must be regarded as a natural peculiarity of the species.
The same rooks seem to take possession of their old nests year after year, repairing them, and not building new ones. The time of building and repairing nests is one of prodigious clamor in the rookery, and begins early in spring. The male rook feeds the female assiduously during incubation, and sometimes takes her place on the nest. Both parents bring food to their young ones.
The rook is capable of being tamed, and tame rooks have been known to exhibit something of the imitative power of 'voice possessed by several other birds of the same fatuity.
White. cream-colored, and pied rooks are now and then seen. These peculiarities of plumage probably arise from a more or less diseased condition.