JACKDAW. 1 1 1 



that the nest should be flat and fit to sit on, the birds 

 brought sticks till they piled it up five or six steps, after 

 which came a landing, and then they finished their work 

 securely. The clergyman of the place bore testimony to 

 the quantity of sticks brought together, the labour of 

 collecting which must have been quite extraordinary. Mr. 

 Jesse has mentioned another instance ; a representation of 

 the structure being placed opposite the title-page of his 

 Scenes and Tales of Country Life. 



The Jackdaw lays from four to six eggs; these are 

 generally produced in May, and the young are hatched 

 by the end of the month, or very early in June. The eggs 

 are of a pale bluish white, spotted with ash colour and 

 clove brown ; the length one inch seven lines, by one inch 

 and half a line in breadth. The young birds, which are usu- 

 ally fit to be taken from the nest by the end of the second 

 week in June, are easily tamed, and much attached to those 

 who feed them. They soon learn to imitate the sounds of 

 the human voice, and exhibit other amusing qualities. 

 Some remarkable instances are related in the Magazine of 

 Natural History,* and in works upon Ornithology. The 

 voice of the Jackdaw is more shrill than that of the larger 

 Crows, and like them, it is by no means particular as to 

 the quality of its food, eating indiscriminately insects, 

 seeds, or grain, eggs, or carrion ; on the sea-shore, shell- 

 fish, or the remains of other fish, and Crustacea ; it may be 

 seen perched on the back of sheep to gather wool for its 

 nest, or to pick out any parasitic insect it may find in such 

 a situation : occasionally the Jackdaw visits gardens to feed 

 on some of the softer vegetables and fruits ; but in con- 

 finement appears to prefer meat. When once paired, Mr. 

 Waterton considers that they remain partners for life. 



The Jackdaw is found in most parts of this country ; 

 * Vol. vi. p. 516, and vol. vii. p. 151. 



