io THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



the nest, the Rooks almost invariably breeding in colonies, 

 the Crows more solitarily. The call-note of the Rook 

 at the nest is nothing near so harsh or guttural as that 

 of the Crows. 



Family CORVID^E. Genus CORVUS. 



JACKDAW. 



CORVUS MONEDULA, Linn&us. 

 Single Brooded. Laying season, April and May. 



BRITISH BREEDING AREA: The Jackdaw is not only 

 one of the commonest but one of the most widely distri- 

 buted species in the present family. It breeds more or 

 less abundantly in all^ suitable districts throughout the 

 British Islands, even extending its range to Skye and 

 the Orkneys, although some localities, apparently suitable 

 in every respect to its requirements, are shunned for no 

 determinable cause. It breeds abundantly on the ocean 

 cliffs, and on many inland rocks, in forest districts, on 

 ruins, castles, and cathedrals, in villages, and even in the 

 busiest of cities. 



BREEDING HABITS : Like the Rook, the Jackdaw is 

 not only a life-paired bird, but remarkably gregarious, 

 and breeds in certain places year after year, in most 

 cases using the same nest annually. Like the Carrion 

 Crow, however, it is a somewhat late breeder. The nest 

 is made in a great variety of situations, yet almost in- 

 variably in a hole, either of a cliff, a tree, or a building. 

 Instances are on record where the nest is said to have 

 been made amongst ivy growing on cliffs, but such 

 situations must be very exceptional. It is also said 

 occasionally to use a rabbit-burrow for a nesting-place. 

 The Jackdaw breeds in colonies of varying size, according 



