THE JACKDAW AND THE MAGPIE. 333 



their aerial domiciles to that degree as to cause them to move 

 off elsewhere, leaving eggs and young to their fate. 



The Jackdaw (Kaja, Sw. ; C. Monedula, Linn.). This 

 bird was now and then observed in company with the hooded 

 crow in the spring. It is found throughout Scandinavia, 

 even as high up as Lapland. More generally it breeds in 

 towers and old buildings ; but in the far north, from the 

 want of such like localities, it nests in the wilds of the 

 forest. It is common in Denmark. 



The Magpie (Skata, Sw. ; C. Pica, Linn.) was abundant 

 with us ; as also throughout Scandinavia, from Scania to 

 nearly the extreme verge of Lapland wherever, in short, 

 man has fixed his abode. 



Accidental varieties of this bird are not of unfrequent 

 occurrence in Sweden ; some having been killed altogether 

 white. This circumstance has given rise to the notion that 

 there is more than one species in the peninsula. Ekstrom, 

 indeed, would appear to have a leaning this way ; for after 

 describing a very singularly marked magpie, shot near to the 

 town of Trosa in Sodermanland, he goes on to say : 



" Such varieties are common amongst the crow tribe ; but 

 that the same pair of birds should for two seasons together 

 (as was the case in this instance) hatch young ones, which, 

 though in colour so dissimilar to their parents, exactly 

 resembled each other, has given me reason to think that the 

 disposition with birds to produce progeny altogether different 

 from themselves, should be sought in the parents, and not, 

 as is usual, in some peculiar disease in the young. All that I 

 could gather in regard to the habits of the birds in question, 

 amounted to this, that they confined themselves to the 



