COMMON CHOUGH. . 13 



paratively recent times. Owing to the character of the 

 coast, the breeding-places of the Chough are on the south- 

 ern and western shores of the British Islands — districts in 

 which the cliffs are lofty and far removed from the busy 

 haunts of men. It breeds locally and sparingly from 

 Dorset, west to Devon and Cornwall. A few pairs still 

 breed on Lundy Island. Scattered colonies are established 

 here and there on the wild rocky coasts of Wales, as well 

 as in one or two localities inland in that portion of our 

 islands ; whilst in the Isle of Man a few pairs still 

 continue to breed. It is said also occasionally to breed 

 in Cumberland. On the west coast of Scotland it is 

 fairly plentiful, on the islands of Islay, Jura, and Skye, 

 especially the former, and also in one or two localities on 

 the cliffs of the mainland. In Ireland its chief strong- 

 holds are on the coasts of Kerry, Mayo, Donegal and 

 Antrim, Waterford and Cork. 



Breeding habits: There is much similarity between 

 the habits of the Chough and the Jackdaw during the 

 season of reproduction. Both birds are gregarious and 

 breed in colonies, both birds are life-paired species, and 

 both breed in holes or covered sites, and continue year 

 after year to rear their young in certain favoured spots, 

 tenanting the same nests each recurring season. On the 

 cliffs the nests are made in the clefts or fissures, or in 

 holes in the roof or sides of caves, often so deep down 

 in the rock as to be absolutely inaccessible ; inland a 

 hole in a ruin is sometimes selected. The nest, like that 

 of the Jackdaw, varies a good deal in size, according 

 to the accommodation afforded by the selected hole or 

 fissure, and is composed of sticks, dead branches of 

 heather, and the dry stalks of plants. The cavity con- 

 taining the eggs is formed of dry grass, roots, wool, fur, 

 and occasionally hair. If the colony is disturbed, the 

 birds fly out of their nest-hol-es and act in a very Jack- 



