JACKDAW. 279 



and we are informed by the Eev. Mr. Whitear that an 

 instance lately occurred at Bingstead, in which a 

 jackdaw killed, and partly devoured, an old pigeon, and 

 then deliberately laid its own egg close to the two on 

 which the pigeon was sitting." A very decided case, 

 I must say, of adding " insult to injury." As pets, 

 in confinement, they are extremely docile and affec- 

 tionate, and with their quaint actions and knowing 

 looks afford much amusement. The following curious 

 anecdote of one taken from a nest at Eackheath and 

 brought up at Catton Park, was related to me by Mr. 

 Gurney's gardener. This bird being perfectly tame was 

 allowed, with one or two others, to fly about in the 

 garden, and would come at a call to feed from the hand 

 or shoulder. Suddenly, from some freak or fright, they 

 all left, and were last seen flying in the direction of their 

 former home. Nearly twelve months afterwards, no 

 more having been seen of them in the meantime, a 

 single jackdaw was observed flying about the hall, and 

 apparently inclined to settle, by a carpenter's lad, who 

 had been in the habit of feeding the lost birds ; on his 

 whistling, in the usual manner, to this new arrival, the 

 jackdaw hovered round him and, at last, settled on his 

 shoulder, and, by his familiar habits and actions, showed 

 plainly that he was one of the missing pets. He allowed 

 himself to be caught, with perfect indifference, and is 

 now living very happily in a cage with a companion of 

 the same species. Sir Thomas Browne, referring to this 

 species, remarks, " among the many monedulas or jack- 

 daws, I could never in these parts observe the pyrrhocorax 

 or Cornish chough, with red legs and bill, to be com- 

 monly seen in Cornwall." A perfectly white specimen 

 was shot at Smallburgh, in 1854, and a pied example, 

 near Norwich, in June, 1861 ; but varieties in this species 

 are not very often met with. 



