JACKDAW. 555 



Habits. — The Jackdaw is a remarkably active, pert, and 

 loquacious little fellow, ever cheerful, always on the alert, and 

 ready either for business or frolic. If not so respectable as the 

 grave and sagacious raven, he is at least the most pleasant of 

 the family, and withal extremely fond of society, for not content 

 with having a flock of his own folk about him, he often thrusts 

 himself into the midst of a gang of rooks, and in winter some- 

 times takes up his abode entirely with them. 



The flight of this species is similar to that of the rook, some- 

 what more rapid, generally extremely wavering, the bird fre- 

 quently shifting its direction, now dashing downwards, then 

 curving uj) again, shooting obliquely to either side, and per- 

 forming as many evolutions as if it could not follow a direct 

 line, which, however, it sometimes does when in great haste. 

 It is also extremely clamorous, and its note being loud and 

 clear, resembling the syllable Kae or Cait\ variously modu- 

 lated, the noise emitted by a large flock, although in no degree 

 musical, is far from being unpleasant. 



Jackdaws inhabit deserted buildings, steeples, towers, and 

 high rocks, especially those along the coast. Sallying from 

 thence at early dawn, they betake themselves to the pastures, 

 meadows, or ploughed fields, to search for larvse, worms, in- 

 sects, and in general the same sort of food as the rooks, with 

 which they often associate on their excursions. They walk 

 gracefully, and much more smartly than the rooks, often run- 

 ning under excitement, and frequently quarrelling together, 

 although without any serious results. They do not despise 

 carrion, and on the shore will occasionally feed on shell-fish, 

 Crustacea and fishes, being nearly as omnivorous as the Hooded 

 Crows, although giving a decided preference to larvae. They 

 are scarcely less vigilant than the rooks, at least while in the 

 fields, so that it is not always easy to get within shot of them ; 

 but in the breeding season one may readily procure specimens 

 by concealing himself in the midst of their haunts. 



This is one of the few birds that habitually or occasionally 

 reside in the heart of cities, where it selects a steeple, a church 

 tower, or any other high building in which it can find a suffi- 

 cient number of secure retreats. In Edinburgh, for example, 



