SHRIKES AND DAWS. Io! 
tion so long waged against it has not long since 
succeeded in driving it altogether from the country. 
The nest of the jay, which is a somewhat clumsily- 
built structure of twigs, grass, and roots, is never 
placed very high from the ground, and is generally 
situated either in the top of a low tree, or against the 
trunk of a tall one. A favourite locality is the fork 
of some creeper, at a moderate height from the 
ground. The eggs, which vary from four to six in 
number, are rather larger than those of a starling, 
and are of a dull, greenish hue, freckled with light 
brown. 
NEXT upon our list comes a group of birds of a 
totally different character, which, although certainly 
benefiting the agriculturist by the slaughter of his 
numerous enemies, are yet of greater service as 
natural scavengers, feeding principally upon carrion, 
and so destroying a substance which would pollute 
the atmosphere if allowed to decompose. ‘These 
birds occupy the same position among the feathered 
race, indeed, as do the burying-beetles and the blow- 
flies among insects, assisting in the great and im- 
portant task of purifying the world, and rendering it 
suitable for the habitation of higher beings. 
First among these valuable birds comes the Raven, 
victim in only too many parts of the country to the 
‘spread of civilisation,” and fast dying out even in 
districts wherein he still takes up his abode. Time was 
when he was by no means a rarity, when he ranged 
free and undisturbed over the land, when game- 
