PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 7 



JACKDAW \Carvus monedula, Linnaeus. Kae, caw-daw, cadder, chough. 

 French, choucas ; German, Dohle ou Turmkrahe ; Italian, Taccola]. 



1. Description. Black with blue-green or purple gloss. Length 14 in. 

 [355 mm.]. (PI. 4.) Distinguished from the preceding species, with which it 

 often consorts, by its smaller size, quicker wing beats, blue-white iris, and the 

 grey on its nape, neck, and ear-coverts. The female has less grey. The young 

 are duller than the adults, and their irides are brown, becoming entirely grey only 

 after the second autumn moult. Several skins of young are brown on the hood 

 and underparts. [F. B. K.] 



2. Distribution. Its range extends over the greater part of Europe and 

 temperate Asia, east to Japan and south to Algeria. Three races of this bird are 

 found in Europe the eastern form (which has a distinct white collar) being 

 chiefly confined to South Russia, the Balkan Peninsula, and parts of Austro- 

 Hungary; while the Scandinavian race is found in South Sweden; and the 

 common western race not only inhabits the British Isles, but is found over the 

 rest of the Continent, and locally in North-west Africa. [F. c. B. J.] 



3. Migration. It is to be found as a resident species in nearly every 

 part of the British Isles. Its migrations are identical with those of the rook, 

 which it often accompanies, even on its erratic excursions over the Atlantic. 

 [F. B. K.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place : any convenient hole, usually in buildings, 

 rocks, trees, also in rabbit warrens. It occasionally builds both open and domed 

 nests in the branches of trees. Nest : varying in size according to the nesting 

 place, built of sticks, lined with wool, fur, dry grass, and other soft material. 

 (PI. n.) Both sexes share in its construction. The eggs, usually 4-6, occasionally 7, 

 in number, are pale greenish blue, spotted and blotched with brownish black and 

 ash-greys. Some eggs are finely speckled, while others show bold blotches. (PI. A.) 

 Average size of 50 British eggs, T39 x -99 in. [35*47 x 25'32 mm.]. Laying begins 

 in the latter part of April. Both sexes incubate. Period of incubation, 17-20 

 days. The young remain in the nest 4-5 weeks (A. Taylor, in litt.). One brood. 

 [F. c. R. j. F. B. K.] 



5. Food. Practically the same as the rook. The daw is particularly fond of 

 that destructive grub, the leather- jacket. It also resembles the other Corvidae in 

 its taste for eggs and young birds (Field, 1905, January-June, pp. 905, 947). The 

 young are fed by both parents, mainly on worms and insects. [F. B. K.] 



6. Song Period. See p. 47. 



