THE JACKDAW. 47 



is of immense assistance to the husbandman, and also to 

 the market or other large gardener. This is especially 

 when the young are hatched, as at that time the parent 

 birds, emboldened by the knowledge of the extra demands 

 cast upon them, will visit many a garden near the 

 habitation of man in their search for food ; and this, too, 

 in spite of the fact that they are generally as wary of 

 danger as the Rook, and make provision in the way of 

 outposts as mentioned of that bird. About this time 

 Jackdaws may be seen perched upon the sheep's backs, 

 possibly robbing them of their wool, and also doing them 

 a good turn by ridding them of parasites. 



The young do not have the grey upon the head 

 until the first moult, and it may be presumed that it 

 becomes lighter with age; it is an undoubted fact 

 that it becomes more silvery in spring and during 

 summer. 



The voice of the Jackdaw seems to be comprised in 

 the word " chock/'' and this may have originated the 

 prefix Jack to the generic name Daw. Some have con- 

 sidered the sound more like " craw," others ' ' caw/' but 

 to our mind it is uttered, when seated upon a tower or 

 chimney, as " chock/' with a staccato ending. When in 

 flight, however, this note is more often repeated and much 

 more rapidly delivered ; especially when a single bird 

 has been delayed and is anxious to rejoin the rest of 

 its comrades; at which time, too, the flight becomes 

 somewhat of a slovenly scramble ; though the ordinary 

 flight is much quicker than that of the Rook, and the two 

 birds may generally be so distinguished. 



There are few birds that have more frequently been 

 made pets than the Jackdaw. Possibly, from having been 



