iy THe NORTH OF KENT 107 
chosen this altitude it is difficult to say. But 
a duck has been known to build even in a 
church steeple! One would think that the 
young would certainly be killed on their first 
flight from such a height. We were able 
before finishing for the day to pay a visit to 
the grounds of a fine old ruined moated castle 
in the vicinity. It had special attractions 
for us as the occupant, a lady, was very fond 
of birds and animals of all kinds, and so did 
not allow the place to be disturbed. Numer- 
ous jackdaws were flying about its dilapidated 
walls and were nesting in the old joist and 
loopholes. There were so many of them that 
some had to resort to the holes in the en- 
trance towers, not heeding the people passing 
in and out. Two of the birds, not so shy as 
the others, could be seen sitting, one on the 
old vane, which bears the date 1767, and an- 
other on the turret, just at the foot of the 
flagstaff. Close by was a long trough in 
which sheep had been fed. On it were two 
dozen or more jackdaws, old and young, ‘ clack- 
ing’ loudly and tumbling over each other as 
