of the cutting being very steep, the hares, when at last they
perceived their danger, would naturally rush straight away along the
metals. Coming at great speed, the engine would overtake and destroy
them: a miserable end for the poor creatures in the midst of their
moonlight frolic. But what Aaron laid stress on was the fact that he
could not even sell the skins, they were so cut to pieces.

The rooks' nests in the Chace were very numerous, and were chiefly
built in elm trees, but some in tall spruce firs. It was easy to know
when the birds had paired, as a couple of rooks could then be often
seen perched gravely side by side upon an old nest in the midst of
leafless boughs, deliberating about its repair. There were some
poplars near a part of the rookery, and when the nests were fully
occupied with young the old birds frequently alighted on the very top
of an adjacent poplar. The slender brush-like tip of the tree bent
with their weight, curving over like a whip, to spring up when they
left.

The rooks were fond of maize, boldly descending among the poultry kept
in a rickyard within a short distance of their trees. If any one has a
clump of trees in which rooks seem inclined to build and it is desired
to encourage them, it would appear a good plan to establish a
poultry-yard in the same field. They are certain to visit the spot.

One day I watched a rook pursuing a swift and making every effort to
overtake and strike it. The rook displayed great power of wing,
twisting and turning, now descending or turning on one side to glide
more rapidly, and uttering short 'caws' of eagerness or anger; but,
just eluding the heavy rush of its pursuer, the swift doubled and
darted away before it, as if tempting the enemy to charge, and then
enjoying his disappointment. Several other swifts wheeled above at a
distance, apparently watching. These evolutions lasted some minutes,
rook and swift rising higher and higher into the air until, tired of
being chased, the swift went straight away at full speed, easily
outstripping the rook, which soon desisted from the attempt to follow.

When birds are thus combating, the chief aim of each is to get above
the other, as any elevation gives an advantage. This may be
continually noticed in spring, when fighting is always going on, and
is as characteristic of the small birds as the larger. At first I
thought it was a crow after the swift, but came to the conclusion that
it must be a rook beca