296 ANECDOTES OF THE JACKDAW. 



dead hares, often as large as the cat, but generally small. On one occasion a singular fluttering 

 of wings and scratching of claws was heard in the hedge, and when the owner of the two 

 animals went to ascertain its cause, he found that they had brought home a hare so large that 

 they could not drag it through the hole in the hedge, and were quite frantic in their eagerness 

 to attain their object, the cat pulling from within, and the Jackdaw pushing from without. 



In the "Annals of Sporting" is recorded a curious anecdote of the attachment displayed 

 by the Jackdaw to its owner. The relator of the anecdote, after making a few casual remarks, 

 proceeds as follows: "I pulled up for the first time to bait at a well-known hotel, and soon 

 after my arrival a young man rode into the inn-yard from the opposite direction, and dis- 

 mounted at the door of the tap-room belonging to the establishment. Almost immediately 

 following this common event, a Jackdaw alighted on a shed adjoining, which, however, as 

 those birds are frequently kept at such places, did not attract any particular attention, till the 

 ostler called out, 'Ah! here you are then, again, true to the old house and young master.' 

 I immediately asked whom he meant ' Why, Jack, Sir, yonder ! ' pointing to the Daw. 'And 

 what of him ? ' I went on to inquire. ' Oh ! Sir, he is a most 'cute and cunning fellow, and fol- 

 lows his master wherever he goes, either on horseback or on foot.' This awakened my interest, 

 and I received these further particulars of this extraordinary bird. 



" He belonged to the son of the ostler, and was constantly fed and taken care of by him, 

 until he became quite his familiar friend ; so much so, indeed, that the circumstance created 

 wonder in the vicinity of its home. So convinced was the ostler of the faith and devotion of 

 his feathered acquaintance, that on one particular occasion, as lie was setting off, on horseback, 

 he made a wager a large one for him of two bowls of punch, with a person who doubted 

 that the bird would obey the call of his master and follow his route. He then mounted, 

 and exclaiming, ' Come, Jack, I'm going ! ' put his horse in motion. In a very short time the 

 bird's wings were extended, and he attended the progress and return of his feeder, leaving not 

 the shadow of a plea for the non-payment of the bet which the sceptic had so unwittingly 

 ventured. 



"This, and some other circumstances which my informant mentioned, induced me to 

 watch more narrowly the motions of the bird, and I observed him constantly hopping from 

 place to place, and every now and then pitching upon the sill of the window that lighted the 

 tap-room, in order to ascertain if his travelling companion was 'still within. On one occasion, 

 indeed, he pressed quite anxiously into the room, and observing him he sought not inclined 

 immediately to move, he took a flight in a circular direction for nearly half a mile, returning 

 again to his former station. Soon after this the man prepared his horse, Jack mounted upon 

 the sign-post, and as soon as the former had ridden about a hundred yards on his road to 

 Staines, he fluttered his dark pinions and followed the well-remembered track of the ostler -boy 

 of Staines." 



The gray patch on the head and neck is not seen until the bird attains maturity, the 

 feathers being of the same black hue as on the remainder of the body until the first moult, 

 when the juvenile plumage is shed and the adult garments assumed. 



The nest of the Jackdaw is a very rude structure of sticks, lined, or rather covered, with 

 hay, wool, feathers, and all kinds of miscellaneous substances of a warm kind for the eggs and 

 young. It is placed in various localities, generally in buildings or rocks, but has often been 

 found in hollow trees, and even in the holes of rabbit-warrens, the last mentioned locality being 

 a very remarkable one, as the young birds must be in constant danger of marauding stoats 

 and weasels. In one instance a quantity of broken glass was employed in the foundation of 

 the nest. The Jackdaw is not choice in the selection of feathered neighbors, for I have found 

 in the same tower the nests of pigeons, Jackdaws, and starlings, in amicable proximity to eacli 

 other. The eggs are smaller and much paler than those of the rook or crow, but have a similar 

 general aspect. Their number is about five. 



The general color of the Jackdaw is black, with the exception of the back of the head and 

 the nape of the neck, which are gray. A decided tinge of glossy blue is perceptible on the 

 wings. The total length of the adult Jackdaw is about fourteen inches. The female is dis- 

 tinguishable from her mate by the darker color of the gray hood. In both sexes the wings 



