JACKDAW. 237 



from particular circumstances, in the same way 

 that rabbit-warrens are in some districts much 

 frequented, and on the rocky islands, or near the 

 shores, where this little animal is often kept and 

 abounds, their burrows are used by the Jackdaw 

 as well as by various sea fowl, (the sheldrake, 

 puffins, petrels, &c.) nevertheless, we consider 

 rocky and mountainous places to be their natural 

 resorts. On many parts of the sea coast, and 

 upon inland rocks, have, in ancient times, been 

 placed old castles, or places of defence, and 

 now amidst their ruins a colony is always to be 

 found spreading themselves also over the suit- 

 able parts of the adjacent crag; but around 

 all the northern shores of Scotland, where build- 

 ings are less frequent, there are many colonies 

 of this bird, and apparently in places where 

 nothing but the natural fitness of the situa- 

 tion could attract them. Here the nest is built 

 in fissures, in holes, or in the interior of caves* 

 and often outwardly exhibits a vast assemblage 

 of sticks, sometimes partially concealed by a 

 drapery of ivy, or other wild creepers. Many 

 nests are often placed together, so near that the 

 birds almost touch, at the same time there is no 

 interference or community of hatching, and the 

 entrance is generally by different apertures. In 

 cultivated districts, again, where there is a want 

 of the retreats, incident to buildings, they live 

 in small companies intermingled with the common 

 rook, with which they seem always to associate 

 in terms perfectly friendly, and in the rookery 



