234 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



some have been reported built on the top of wirework fixed 

 on chimney-pots with the object of preventing the birds 

 building inside the chimneys. The Jackdaw's predilection 

 for utilising church towers for nesting sites is proverbial, 

 and at Calverley Church a spiral staircase in the befry tower 

 was blocked up by an accumulation of sticks brought there 

 for building materials. A similar case occurred in one of 

 the hollow pinnacles of the Beverley Minster ; inside this 

 pinnacle were stone steps forming a ladder to the top, and 

 the Jackdaws had built on the top step, but, as this did not 

 form a sufficient base to support the nest, the birds had 

 brought great quantities of sticks and filled up the ladder- way. 



The Jackdaw, like other members of the Crow family, 

 is liable to variation in plumage ; pied examples are not 

 infrequently met with, and the late J. C. Garth's collection 

 contained a white specimen, probably obtained near Knares- 

 borough ; one which had a white crescent on each wing 

 was seen at Flamborough in June 1899 ; a curious brown 

 coloured bird was observed near the Crimple, between 

 Harrogate and Knaresborough, on I3th May 1882 ; Mr. F. 

 Boyes has seen several individuals with brown wings at 

 Beverley, and one such specimen is in the possession of Mr. 

 Stuart of that place. An example with curved mandibles 

 was found near Burton Constable ; it had mandibles closely 

 resembling those of a Crossbill, but the upper was more 

 curved and worn by use, the lower, which grew upwards, 

 being pointed (Field, 7th August 1897). 



Yorkshire folk-lore attributes the worst of ill-luck as likely 

 to follow the flight of a Jackdaw down a chimney, the death 

 of one of the inmates of the house being thus foretold. 



Of its local names, Jack and Daw are general, becoming 

 Jacky at Ackworth ; and Caw Daw is given by Swainson 

 as a north country appellation. 



