122 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Description Injurious to houses. 



Wales, inhabiting the cliffs and ruinous castles 

 along the shores. A few are found on Dover- 

 cliff, where they came entirely by accident; a 

 gentleman in the neighbourhood had a pair sent 

 from Cornwall as a present, which escaped, and 

 stocked those rocks. They are not constant to 

 their abode ; but frequently, in the course of the 

 year, desert the place for a week or ten days at a 

 time. 



It is a very elegant bird, of a fine blue or pur- 

 ple colour, with bright orange bill and legs. Its 

 constitution is also extremely delicate, and inca- 

 pable of bearing severe weather. Active, rest- 

 less, and meddling, it is not to be trusted where 

 things of consequence lie. It is much pleased 

 with glittering objects ; and very apt to snatch 

 up bits of lighted sticks, so that instances have 

 occurred of houses being set on fire by it. The 

 injury that it does to thatched houses is some- 

 times very great; for, tearing holes into them 

 with its long bill in search of worms and other 

 insects, the rain is admitted and quickens their 

 decay. It will also often pick out lime from 

 walls, in search of spiders and flies, and other 

 insects. 



These birds generally fly very high, and make 

 a much shriller noise than the jackdaw. The 

 Cornish peasantry attend so much to them, that 

 it is very common to see them tame in their gar* 

 dens. They shriek out aloud at the appearance 

 of any thing strange or frightful; but when ap- 



