208 THE JACKDAW. 



near Milne Graden ; at Edrington Castle, on the Whitadder ; 

 below Blackadder House, on the Blackadder ; the steep rocky 

 braes about Carolside and Chapel, on the Leader ; and the 

 Jackdaw's Craig,^ on the Dye, near Longformacus. It is 

 very numerous in the neighbourhood of Oldcambus, and 

 my friend Mr. Hardy frequently refers to it in his notes on 

 birds in that district." As an instance of its curiosity, he 

 mentions that on the 1st of April 1863, a ewe dropped 

 two lambs in the old churchyard of St. Helen's, near his 

 house ; and on visiting the place to see the lambs, imme- 

 diately after the event, he found a great number of Jackdaws 

 assembled on the kirk gable and kirkyard dyke, in solemn 

 consultation, as if they could not understand what had 

 occurred, their attention having been attracted by the new 

 " ferlie " while passing on their morning flight. 



Jackdaws may be often seen associating with flocks 

 of rooks, and are undoubtedly of service to the farmers 

 by helping to destroy grubs of all kinds, but they sometimes 

 attack young beans as they are springing through the 

 ground, and also newly sown grain; while they steal 

 from corn fields and stacks. Fields where sheep are 

 feeding are favourite resorts of this bird, where it may 

 be frequently observed sitting on their backs, and pecking 

 insects out of the wool. It is much disliked by game- 

 keepers, for it is very destructive to the eggs, as well as 

 the newly hatched young, of Pheasants and Partridges ; 

 pouncing down and seizing the chicks on every opportunity, 

 especially in the morning. 



In addition to the above-mentioned situations, the nest is 

 sometimes found in holes in trees and in rabbit burrows. It 

 is chiefly composed of sticks and is lined with wool, dry grass. 



1 Colonel Brown, who kindly showed me this haunt on 10th March 1887,said 

 that it is fveqviented by hundreds of Jackdaws. 



2 MS. Notes by Mr. Hardy. 



