Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . ofthe following circumstance: Insearching for grubs which areconcealed in the earth, andwhich are supported by eat-ing the roots of the grass, thecrow pulls at the stem of thegrass with its bill, and whenthe grass comes up, the crowknows that there are under itinsects which have destroyed its roots, and in this waydetects them; but if the stem of gra
Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . ofthe following circumstance: Insearching for grubs which areconcealed in the earth, andwhich are supported by eat-ing the roots of the grass, thecrow pulls at the stem of thegrass with its bill, and whenthe grass comes up, the crowknows that there are under itinsects which have destroyed its roots, and in this waydetects them; but if the stem of grass is firm, the crowgoes to another tufU and proceeds in the same manner. 737. Why is the rook the earliest bird stirring in themorning? Because its principal food is worms, which feed andcrawl upon the humid surface of the ground in the dark,and retire before the light of day; and, roosting higherthan other birds, the first rays of the sun as they dart fromthe horizon, become visible to the rook. 738. Why is the flight of rooks popularly supposed toportend rough or fine weather? Because it is proved by observation that when a galeof wind is blowing, or about to blow, they descend intovalleys, and just skim over the tops of the intervening. KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 241 Rooks unnumbered build their nest—Deliberate birds, and prudent all;Their notes, indeed, are harsh and rude,But theyre a social multitude.—Crabbe. hills and trees; but when the sky is calm and clear, theypass through the upper air in regular and easy flight. 739. Sometimes these birds perform an evolution usually called theshooting of the rooks. When they have risen to an immense height inthe air, so that, in appearance, they are scarcely larger than the lark,they suddenly descend to the ground, or to the tops of trees exactly underthem. To effect this, they come headlong down, on pinions a little raised,but not expanded, in a zig-zag direction (presenting alternately their backand breast), through the r
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1916
