92 THE JACKDAW. 



" In some places, one would think that there is more in their 

 winter associating than merely accidental meeting on the same 

 pastures. In the latter part of the season, when the Rooks from 

 one of the most extensive rookeries in Britain made daily excur- 

 sions of about six miles to the warm grounds by the sea-side, 

 and in their flight passed over a deep ravine in tne rocky sides, 

 or rather side (for they inhabit the sunny one), on which there 

 were many Jackdaws, I have observed that when the cawing 

 of the Hooks in their morning flight was heard at the ravine, 

 the Jackdaws, which had previously been still and quiet, in- 

 stantly raised their shriller notes, and flew out to join the Rooks, 

 both parties clamouring loudly, as if welcoming each other ; and 

 that, on the return, the time of which was no bad augury of the 

 weather of the succeeding day, the Daws accompanied the Rooks 

 a little past the ravine ; then both cawed their farewell, and de- 

 parted. What is more singular, I have seen, too frequently 

 for its being merely accidental, a Daw return for a short time 

 to the Rooks, a Rook to the Daws, or one from each race meet 

 between, and be noisy together for a space after the bands had 

 separated. With the reason I do not interfere, not being in the 

 secrets of either party ; but the fact is as certain as it is curious. 

 In order that any one who pleases may investigate the matter, I 

 may mention that the Rooks were from the woods of Panmure, 

 the Daws from the den of Pitairley, and the feeding ground was 

 the low part of the parishes of Monifeith and Barry, all in the 

 county of Angus. 



" From the ease with which Jackdaws can be observed, there 

 are many stories of them, and also of the perils to which boys 

 expose themselves in plundering their nests. One of the most 

 extraordinary of the latter, is that of Murray, the Dundee barber. 

 The battlement of the old tower there is about one hundred and 

 fifty feet above the pavement at the base. Murray (when a boy) 

 went through one of the holes in the parapet, hung by one hand 

 to a Scotch bonnet, which another boy held from within, and with 

 his other hand drew the eggs and young birds from the nests, 

 and put them in the bonnet. While thus employed, he kept 

 warning his companion, ' If you let go the bonnet, I'll give you 

 none of the spoil.' The Jackdaw is easily tamed, and long re- 

 members those who have paid attention to it ; indeed, it is almost- 

 tame in its natural state ; but it is noisy and impudent, and not 

 very honest." 



To this we may well add an extract from the account given by 

 MACGILLIVKAY in his History of British Birds. 



"Jackdaws inhabit deserted buildings, steeples, towers, and 

 high rocks, especially those along the coast. Saflymg from thence 

 at early dawn, they betake themselves to the pastures, meadows, 



