THE JACKDAW AS A PET 393 



again, by the churchwardens from the church 

 belfry have been hard put to it to find proper 

 lodgings. But they have strong local attachments. 

 They do not appear to have diminished in numbers, 

 and they have made shift, sometimes, to occupy 

 a hole which a starling might think too close 

 quarters, and, sometimes, a slight depression in a 

 tree, from which the nest stands up high in the 

 light of day. Like the magpie, they know well 

 how to accommodate themselves to circumstances. 

 Bring up a jackdaw from the nest, and he will 

 be almost as amusing and mischievous as a magpie 

 or a raven. He takes to his new position at once, 

 and is on perfect terms of equality with the cat, the 

 dog, the cocks and hens, and the cook. He easily 

 learns to talk ; and with his head held knowingly on 

 one side, his bright bluish eyes, and his neat tippet 

 of grey feathers, he is always ready for " treasons, 

 stratagems, and spoils." 



" When nobody thinks of any such thing 

 The little jackdaw hops off with the ring." 



One characteristic of the jackdaw, and that the 

 most lovable of all, I have never, I think, seen 

 described, and that is his intense attachment to his 

 mate. Though they go in flocks, the husband and 



