BIRDS OF GUERNSEY. 85 



parts of the Island, sometimes in considerable Hocks, 

 like Books. 



As Jackdaws are by no means numerous in 

 Guernsey, and as far as I have been able to make 

 out never breed there, the Choughs have it all their 

 own way, and quite keep up their numbers, even if 

 they do not increase them, which I think very 

 doubtful, though I can see no reason why they 

 should not, as their eggs are always laid in holes in 

 the cliffs, and very difficult to get at, and at other 

 times of year the birds are very wary, and take 

 good care of themselves, it being by no means easy 

 to get a shot at them, unless by stalking them up 

 behind a hedge or rock ; and as they are not good 

 eating, and will not sell in the market like Field- 

 fares and Redwings, no Guernsey man thinks 

 of expending powder and shot on them ; so though 

 not included in the Guernsey Bird Act, the Choughs 

 on the whole have an easy time of it in Guernsey, 

 and ought to increase in numbers more than they 

 apparently do. In Sark the Choughs have by no 

 means so easy a time, as the Jackdaws outnumber 

 them about the cliffs, and will probably eventually 

 drive them out of the Island — indeed, I am afraid 

 they have done this in Alderney, as I did not see 

 any when there in the summer of 1876, nor in this 

 last summer (1878) ; and Captain Hubbach T\Tites 

 me word he has seen none in Alderney himself this 

 year (1878). I, however, saw some there in previous 



