THE JACKDAW. 



209 



or other soft materials ; but the Jackdaw does not seem to 

 confine itself to these comfortable surroundings, as the follow- 

 ing account, which appeared in the Berwickshire News of the 

 5th of May 1887, shows: — "While the chimneys of the man- 

 sion-house of Mellerstain were being cleaned on Saturday last, 

 a Jackdaw's nest was found in one of the vents. On the nest 

 being taken out, the workmen were greatly surprised to find 

 among the materials composing it, a will belonging to a man 

 named Eobertson, who had lived at one time near Meller- 

 stain. Wonderful to relate, it was entire, with the excep- 

 tion of a small bit torn off one of the corners. It was 

 sent off to the relatives, who live near Leitholm. How 

 it came there is a mystery. The thieving propensities of 

 the Jackdaw are well known, but surely it is rare that a 

 ' will ' is carried off for the purpose of making a nest." 



The eggs, which are from four to six in number, are 

 bluish green, freckled and spotted with ash grey and olive 

 brown. The young are often taken from the nest by boys 

 to be tamed and kept as pets. 



;i^^pi'::^ff^i^S^ £ 





VOL. I. O 



