214 JACKDAW. 



hedge, so as to shelter himself from the stoop of 

 the falcon. Many requisites are necessary to af- 

 ford this sport in perfection; a favourable country, 

 good hawks, and able assistants." 



When brought up from the nest, the magpie is 

 capable of great attachment to the person who has 

 the care of it ; and I have observed this shewn in 

 a variety of ways. It will also attach itself to a 

 dog or cat which may happen to be in a yard with 

 it, but it generally is the master, from the great 

 strength of its beak. At this time (1843) a bird 

 of the same order, the Jackdaw, belonging to a 

 butcher at Sunning Hill, Berkshire, is the insepa- 

 rable companion of a dog. He can neither stir or 

 leave the premises, but his faithful and attached 

 friend goes with him ; and it is a pleasing sight to 

 see them together, the dog looking at his com- 

 panion with much complacency, which the daw 

 returns with an appearance of affection not to be 

 misunderstood. It affords a proof that animals 

 seek for some object on which to bestow their af- 

 fections ; and when their natural ones are not to 

 be met with, they select one, however incongru- 

 ous, for their friend and companion. This fondness 

 for sociability has been beautifully instilled in 

 animals by their benevolent Maker. It must add 

 much to their actual enjoyment of life during the 

 short period of their existence ; and at all events 

 it affords a useful lesson by inculcating kindly 



