296 LOCH CRERAN. 



the severe weather recently, when snow was but a prelude 

 to bitterly cold winds, the rooks set about gathering moss 

 with great energy, in order to line their nests and fill the 

 crevices between the very open stick framework. This 

 showed an intelligent appreciation of the increased 

 necessity for comfortable quarters, and a series of severe 

 springs might end in a marked improvement in the 

 dwellings of this sapient bird. It was quite pathetic to 

 look out upon the nests close to the windows of our 

 friend's house, and note the male birds bring food to the 

 sitting hens, and feed them so considerately. We 

 observed the mouth of one lady open sympathetically, 

 while she turned to her husband, as if she anticipated a 

 similar attention to that bestowed on his dame by the 

 gallant bird before us. 



In complete antagonism to the above picture of 

 Arcadian bliss is the story told us by the many-wintered 

 keeper respecting the rook's congener, the jay. That it 

 is a rapacious rascal we are well aware, and we are open 

 to convict it of any reasonable atrocity ; yet, but for the 

 reliable source from whence it comes, we should view 

 the tale with suspicion, as the result of a misunderstand- 

 ing. A jay had built its nest in a low tree by a stream, 

 and had deposited eggs therein, so the keeper determined 

 upon shooting the old bird or birds upon the nest, and 

 lay in wait accordingly. What was his amazement to see 

 a jay make its appearance near the nest, and then coolly 

 thrust its beak into each egg in succession and suck it 

 dry ! Whether it had discovered that its nest was 

 watched, and so destroyed it ; or whether it was a stranger 

 bird simply exercising its prerogative of living upon bird's 

 eggs, regardless of that embryonic or degenerate honesty, 

 " honour among thieves," we could not learn. " Corbies 



