208 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



liar cry as he wings his way to the inland pastures ; 

 amid the bleak upland wilds he lives secure amongst 

 the limestone rocks ; while in the more cultivated dis- 

 tricts we see him soaring round the old church towers 

 and amongst the ivied ruins. He will also associate with 

 the Rooks, and rear his young in holes in the trees which 

 contain their nests. The Rook loves to live near the 

 mansion when in the height of its prosperity, the 

 Jackdaw when it is a heap of mouldering ruins. And 

 why ? Simply because he can find abundant holes in 

 which to rear his young amongst the ruins ; but when 

 the building was inhabited by man no holes in which 

 the Daw could nestle were allowed to remain. 



The Jackdaw resembles the Rook in his general 

 habits, and indeed flocks with them, roosts with them, 

 and only leaves their company when called upon to re- 

 produce his species. The Jackdaw is a strictly gregarious 

 bird, and lives in companies like the Rook. Daily we 

 see them wing their way to the pastures, and obtain 

 their food, and then spend their time either sporting in 

 the air or resting in the neighbouring trees until the sun 

 approaches the western horizon, when they congregate, 

 or separate into little parties, and retire to their roosting 

 place, which is usually in the neighbourhood of their 

 nesting grounds. When evening is fast settling into 

 night I often linger and watch the motions of the Daws 

 ere settling down to rest. Their homes are in great 

 plenty in the limestone cliff above me, rearing its hoary 

 summit to the skies, and seared and furrowed by many 

 a scar. Only a few birds are at first seen, but suddenly 

 their well-known cries disturb the tranquil air, and the 

 birds appear in view flying closely together, a few strag- 

 glers being in the rear. After circling in the air a short 

 time they alight in little parties on the stunted trees 



