The Jackdaw's Connection with the Church. 205 



one would expect rooks to build upon, showing not a 

 nest. Nor can it be shelter that rules the selection. 

 Often the trees by the church are in exposed situations, 

 and the nests blown off to their last stick during the 

 autumn equinoctials ; whereas on other trees, only a few 

 hundred yards distant, they would have remained 

 throughout the winter with but little damage done, and 

 so saved the labour of their rebuilding in spring. 



It would seem, then, as though these birds have a 

 knowledge that proximity to a church affords them pro- 

 tection, which it usually does, both from gun and nest- 

 robbing boy, partly from the force of public opinion and, 

 at times, fear of the vicar. 



THE JACKDAW'S CONNECTION WITH 

 THE CHURCH. 



Whether the jackdaw be also a Sabbath observer I 

 cannot say, but its connection with the church the 

 highest high is unquestionable, and even closer than 

 that of the rook. The attachment in its case, however, 

 is of easy explanation, though it seems to puzzle the 

 author of a book called " Wild Life in a Southern 

 County," who makes it a text for much philosophizing, 

 as follows : " How came the jackdaw to make its nest 

 on church towers in the first place ? . . . Archaeologists 

 tell us that stone buildings of any elevation, whether for 

 religious purposes or defence, were not erected till a 

 comparatively late date in this island. Now, the low huts 

 of primeval people would hardly attract the jackdaw. 



