JACKDAW. 69 



The Rev. F. T. Havergal mentions a tame Jackdaw at Upton 

 Bishop, that accompanies the children of one of his parishioners to 

 school every day, a distance of nearly a mile. The bird remains 

 near the school-house, and at twelve o'clock may be seen on the 

 window-sill outside the room, strutting up and down, pecking at 

 the window, and uttering a sharp note to remind those within that 

 work should finish. It shows great pleasure when its little friends 

 appear, and hops on in front of them all the way home ; returning 

 in the same manner for the afternoon school. Having on one 

 occasion accompanied the children to the Vicarage to fetch some 

 milk, it now constantly extends its daily walk to the house to enjoy 

 the bread and milk placed ready for it. 



Daws are omnivorous birds : they usually live on worms, 

 insects, snails, grubs, and beetles, but they are ready for anything, 

 from carrion to fruit and vegetables. They attack eggs of all sorts 

 whenever they can get them, and young birds too ; like the Starling, 

 they often take a ride on the back of a sheep, or cow, for the 

 insects they can find there. They will rob the garden of nuts, 

 walnuts, cherries, or plums ; and in winter are ready to share with 

 the Sparrows the bread-crumbs of the charitable. The Cathedral 

 Daws will even take bread from the window sills of the Free 

 Library, and carry it off to the nearest pinnacle to enjoy at leisure. 



Jackdaws are so numerous m the old oaks of some of our 

 parks, that the eggs are sent in by the keepers as a breakfast 

 delicacy. If a tree is decayed the Daws will quickly find it out 

 and nest there. 



The Rev. W. Baskerville Mynors states that there is at this 

 time (1884) a pied Jackdaw, marked very much like a Magpie, 

 amongst the colony which inhabits the church tower at Llanwarne. 



The Jackdaw, like the rest of his tribe, has been celebrated 

 from the earliest times for longevity : 



Nine generations doth the chattering Daw, 

 Of men at prime of life, surpass in years ; 

 This space the stag quadruples, and three stags, 

 Ere he grows old, the raven doth outlive. 



HESion— i^ra£ir. 106, trans, by Rev. H. W. Phillott. 



