6 BLACK BIRDS. 



Nest Of sticks, straw, hay, and leaves, lined 

 with wool, fur, &c., and placed in holes in cliffs, 

 castles, church towers, and trees, and openly in 



IMA 



Distribution. General. 



The Jackdaw when flying has a quicker wing- 

 stroke than the larger members of the Crow family, 

 is more vivacious in its movements, and much given 

 to ' tumbling ' antics on the wing. Its cry is a 

 highly pitched, querulous 'A-aiv!' with a somewhat 

 nasal twang, to which, being a very loquacious bird, 

 it gives frequent utterance. The Jackdaw is gregari- 

 ous, nesting in colonies in trees, ruins, church towers, 

 holes in high cliffs, and sometimes in rabbit-burrows. 

 It may often be seen with Rooks when feeding in 

 the fields and in their evening sports on the wing, 

 also roosting with them out of the breeding season. 

 It may be met with feeding on the shore in the 

 company of Gulls. 



ROOK 19 inches ; whitish tract at base of bill. 

 RAVEN 24 inches ; long feathers at throat. 

 CARRION CROW 19 inches. 

 HOODED CROW 19 inches ; body ash-gray. 

 CHOUGH 16 inches ; red bill and feet. 



None of these birds has the gray nape of the Jackdaw, or 

 so short a bill. 



BLACKBIRD. Plate 3. Length, 10 inches. 

 Plumage entirely black, glossy ; bill rather long, 

 pointed, bright yellow. Female: dull brown, some- 

 times hoary on breast ; bill also brown. Resident. 



