266 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



JACKDAW. 



Of all the land birds that frequent the coast this 

 species, the Corvus monedula of Linnaeus and most 

 other writers, is one of the most abundant and best 

 known. Colonies of Jackdaws are established on 

 most of our ocean cliffs, in some places, as at 

 Bempton'or Flamborough, mixed with sea-fowl, in 

 others apart by themselves, The birds frequent 

 these colonies all the year round, coming inland to 

 feed at intervals each day, returning at nightfall to 

 rest, in noisy cackling crowds. Sometimes the 

 birds, where circumstances permit, may be seen 

 feeding on the beach or rocks below their haunts. 

 This bird is more or less gregarious all through the 

 year, and some of its assemblages consist of several 

 hundreds of pairs. Its food is chiefly composed of 

 worms, insects, and grubs ; but on the coast the 

 bird picks up a variety of creatures from the sands. 

 There can be little doubt that the Jackdaw pairs for 

 life. The same breeding places, the same nests, are 

 occupied year by year. It is a later breeder than 

 the Rook, the eggs being laid during April and 

 May. On the coast the nest is made in crevices 

 and hollows in the cliffs ; in Tor Bay a small cave is 

 frequented, the nests being built in crannies near 

 the roof. The nest is composed of sticks, turf, the 

 stalks of marine plants, and litter from the fields, 

 lined with dry grass, straws, fur, wool, and feathers. 

 Some nests are much larger than others, the 



