62 BIRDS AND MAN 



the cliff bird makes a livelier, more intelligent and 

 amusing pet than the other. A similar notion 

 exists, or existed, at Hastings, where there was a 

 saying among the fisher folks and other natives that 

 " a Grainger daa is worth a ha'penny more than 

 a castle daa." The Grainger rock, once a favourite 

 breeding-place of the daws at that point, has long 

 since fallen into the sea, and the saying has perhaps 

 died out. 



At Wells most of the cathedral birds — a hundred 

 couples at least — breed in the cavities behind the 

 stone statues, standing, each in its niche, in rows, 

 tier above tier, on the west front. In April, when 

 the daws are busiest at their nest-building, I have 

 amused myself early every morning watching them 

 flying to the front in a constant procession, every 

 bird bringing his stick. This work is all done in the 

 early morning, and about half-past eight o'clock a 

 man comes with a barrow to gather up the fallen 

 sticks — there is always a big barrowful, heaped high, 

 of them ; and if not thus removed the accumulated 

 material would in a few days form a rampart or 

 zareba, which would prevent access to the cathedral 

 on that side. 



It has often been observed that the daw, albeit 

 so clever a bird, shows a curious deficiency of judg- 



