CORVIDJE. 235 



" In and out 



Through the motley rout, 

 That little Jackdaw kept hopping about 

 Here and there 

 Like a dog in a fair." 



It may be taught to imitate the human voice, which 

 it does with considerable success. 



In plumage the Jackdaw somewhat resembles 

 most of the other of the Corvidse hitherto noticed. 

 The irides are greyish white, which gives it a very 

 roguish and knowing look ; the beak is black ; the 

 top of the head black; the back of the head and 

 neck grey : the whole of the rest of the plumage is 

 black, but not quite so glossy as that of the Book : 

 legs, toes and claws shining black. Varieties of this 

 bird occasionally occur, the most general being white 

 or pied. 



The egg of the Jackdaw is considerably smaller 

 than that of the Rook, and is much more distinctly 

 marked ; the ground colour is a light greenish blue, 

 very distinctly spotted with black : the spots vary 

 considerably in size and number. 



MAGPIE, Pica caudata. This very beautiful, but 

 somewhat mischievous, bird is resident with us 

 throughout the year and is still tolerably common all 

 over the country, although it is persecuted by game- 

 keepers with more than ordinary pertinacity, on 

 account of its egg- stealing propensities, to which it 

 adds the still graver crime of killing young birds 



