CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 253 



I think we most of us look upon the Jackdaw as 

 only a very mischievous bird, and never credit him 

 with being more than that. The late Mr. E. Booth 

 used to hold that opinion till going one day (he tells us 

 in his book) to some Jackdaws' nests to take a young 

 bird for purposes of comparison with a young Grey 

 Crow, he found " shells of dozens of Grouse eggs 

 which had been destroyed." Next season steps were 

 taken to prevent their breeding again in that district, 

 the result being that the Grouse immensely increased 

 on the moors. 



I call the Jackdaw a very sociable bird, as he 

 sometimes comes into country towns and breeds 

 in the chimneys of a whole street. At least this was 

 the case at Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland. 



It was extraordinary to see a whole street turned 

 into a sort of nesting-site for birds. One of the 

 specimens in the case was obtained there, the others 

 with their young I got when staying at Salen 

 Hotel, Island of Mull, during my second visit. The 

 nests were situated in some ivy on the face of a cliff. 

 This species is no doubt gifted with more than the 

 usual amount of intelligence. Mr. W. H. Hudson 

 says "the two small bright, whitish-grey eyes, set 

 close together in the middle, have an expression of 

 craft that is somewhat human and a little uncanny." 



My own observation in regard to the Jackdaw is 

 that he is one of the most knowing of the Crow 

 family, being perfectly well aware when you are 

 " shikarring " him and when you have no such 

 intention. 



