6 BLACK BIRDS. 



Nest. — Of sticks, straw, hay, and leaves, lined 

 with wool, fur, &c., and placed in holes in cliffs, 

 castles, church towers, and trees, and openly in 

 trees. 



Distribution. — General. 



The Jackdaw when flying has a quicker wing- 

 stroke than the larger members of the Crow family, 

 is more vivacious in its movements, and much given 

 to ' tumbling ' antics on the wing. Its cry is a 

 highly pitched, querulous 'A-diu!' with a somewhat 

 nasal twang, to which, being a very loquacious bird, 

 it gives frequent utterance. The Jackdaw is gregari- 

 ous, nesting in colonies in trees, ruins, church towers, 

 holes in high cliffs, and sometimes in rabbit-burrows. 

 It may often be seen with Books when feeding in 

 the fields and in their evening sports on the wing, 

 also roosting with them out of the breeding season. 

 It may be met with feeding on the shore in the 

 company of Gulls. 



ROOK — 19 inches ; Avhitish tract at base of bill. 

 RAVEN — 24 inches ; long featliers at throat. 

 CARRION CROW— 19 inches. 

 HOODED CROW— 19 Indies ; body ash-gray. 

 CHOUGH— 16 inches ; red bill and feet. 



None of these birds has the gray nape of the Jackdaw, or 

 so short a bill. 



BLACKBIRD. — Plate 3. Length, 10 inches. 

 Plumage entirely black, glossy ; bill rather long, 

 pointed, bright yellow. Female : dull brown, some- 

 times hoary on breast ; bill also brown. Resident. 



