MAGPIES. 203 



In North America there is a small species, called the Cine- 

 reous Crow, which also much resembles the Jackdaw, and is 

 near akin to him. It is described* as very familiar, and fond 

 of frequenting habitations, both houses and tents ; and so 

 much given to pilfering, that no provisions it can come at, 

 either fresh or salt, are safe from its depredations. It is so 

 bold as to come into tents, and sit on the edge of the kettle 

 when hanging over the fire, and steal victuals out of the dishes. 

 It is very troublesome to the hunters, both English and Indian, 

 frequently following them a whole day. It will perch on a 

 tree, while the hunter is baiting his marten traps, and, as soon 

 as his back is turned, alight on the ground, and eat the baits. 



Thus, all over the world, the Jackdaw tribe is notoriously 

 given to pilfering. Whatever it sees it considers a prize, and 

 carries off to its hoard. In the ruins of Holyrood Chapel, in 

 Edinburgh, a Jackdaw was one day seen flying away with a 

 large piece of lace towards its nest; a soldier undertook to 

 climb up and recover it. He did so, but was surprised to find, 

 not only the stolen lace, but the following strange assortment 

 of articles : — Part of a worsted stocking, a silk handkerchief, 

 a frill, a child's cap, besides several other things, but so ragged 

 and worn out, that it was impossible to make out what they 

 were. 



JAYS AND MAGPIES. 



It is remarkable how exactly similar are the habits and pro- 

 pensities of birds of the same tribe or family, though of a 

 different species. Thus the Jays of North America are of 

 various sorts, entirely differing from our English Jays in parts 

 or the whole of their plumage, and yet in their manners 

 scarcely a difference is observable. We have before remarked, 

 that these and some other birds will just keep out of the range 

 of gun-shot, as if they had learned, either from experience, or 

 by some unknown mode of communication from their older 

 companions, that provided they never allowed a shooter to 

 come within a given distance, they were quite safe. But the 

 American Jays we are speaking of have no such knowledge 

 founded upon experience, as is fully proved by the account of 

 * Hearne's Travels. 



