COLONY OF JACKDAWS. 153 



some of will ell were incomplete, while in others 

 one or two eggs had heen deposited. 



The next day I returned to the place on foot, 

 provided with a spy-glass, for the purpose of ob- 

 servation. On my arrival I found that the ra- 

 vens were absent, and that the jackdaws, availing 

 themselves of this, had congregated in consider- 

 able numbers, and were as busily employed about 

 their habitations as a swarm of bees; some car- 

 rying materials for the completion of their frail 

 and yet unfinished nests, others conveying food 

 to their mates, and all apparently making the 

 most of their time during the absence of their 

 tormentor. 



There being no cover or brushwood at hand, 

 and the branches being yet leafless, I was un- 

 able to conceal myself eftectually, but having sat 

 down at the foot of the tree containing their nest, 

 I awaited the return of the ravens. 



Nearly an hour elapsed before the arrival of the 

 male bird, and I was first made aware of his ap- 

 proach by the consternation which it appeared to 

 spread among the jackdaws. Like most animals 

 under similar circumstances, when apprehensive 

 of danger, they rapidly collected their torces on a 

 single tree, keeping up all the time an incessant 

 chattering, each bird shifting his position raj^idly 

 from bough to bough, while the raven, who held 



h5 



