68 JACKDAW. 



Genus— CORVUS. 

 CORVUS MONEDULA— Jackdaw. 



There is a bird, who, by his coat, 

 And by the hoarseness of his note, 



Might be supposed a Crow ; 

 A great frequenter of the church, 

 Where bishop-like he finds a perch 



And dormitory too. 



CowPER — Jackdaw. 



The Daw is a most familiar bird. He seems to consider 

 himself a part of the human community amongst which he is so 

 fond of dwelling. He is more bold and more domestic than the 

 Rook. There is scarcely a church tower in the county which 

 is not tenanted by a colony of Jackdaws. 



The steeple loving Daw. 



Yl.WB.T)i?>— Favorite Village. 



The Daws throng on the steeple perch. 

 Ambitious of its loftiest vane. 



HuRDis — Favorite Village. 



On old castle walls, in chimneys of houses, on cliffs and in 

 hollow trees, the Jackdaw is sure to take up his residence. The 

 young birds are thus easily procured, and they are easily reared. 

 They become most amusing pets in the family, from the pert 

 impudence they so quickly assume. " Jack " takes his place in 

 the household, as if it naturally belonged to him ; and is ready to 

 enter into conversation from time to time with his short mter- 

 jectional note. Indeed, if you teach him, he will imitate the 

 human and other voices about the house. It may soon be said 



of him : — 



In and out 

 Through the motley rout 

 That little Jackdaw kept hopping about, 

 Here and there, 

 Like a dog in a fair. 



He generally contrives, moreover, to do some mischief or other, in 

 the most secret and unexpected way. He is a great thief; will run 

 off with, and hide, anything that attracts his fancy— and 



When nobody's dreaming of any such thing, 

 That little Jackdaw hops off with the ring. 



Ingoldsby— TAe Jackdaw of Rheims. 



