It would often be well for men to avoid enemies as did these sagacious
rooks:
A curious incident in the recent history of the Gray’s Inn
settlement of rooks is mentioned by a London correspondent
in the Manchester _Guardian_. It appears that a couple
of carrion crows settled in the gardens, and one day it was
discovered that the rookery was deserted. The benchers, who are
particularly proud of their rooks, gave orders for the carrion
crows to be destroyed, and the gardener prepared pigeon’s eggs
with good doses of arsenic. The crows swallowed them and seemed
to grow fatter and healthier. At last strychnine was used, and
the pair were poisoned. Then a curious thing happened. Not a
rook had been seen for weeks at Gray’s Inn, but the next day
they were all back as tho advised by telegram.
(912)