74 THE JACKDAW 



the fruit, or occasionally in the young maize ears, is 

 outweighed a thousand times by the services performed 

 for men by this lively, busy bird, as a destroyer of insect 

 pests. 



The Jackdaw becomes very tame if caught young ; it 

 accustoms itself to life indoors, and becomes attached 

 to members of the household and can be taught many 

 funny tricks and games. It is a great thief, taking 

 away and hiding any shiny object it can carry. It loves 

 a bath, and immediately paddles about in any little piece 

 of water it can find. 



The Jackdaw is found throughout the greater part of 

 Europe; South of Germany it is somewhat rare. No- 

 where is it so numerous as in Russia. 



Mr. Herman's mention of the Jackdaw's nesting place 

 being in towns among the ornamental parts of buildings 

 reminds me of an act of great apparent cruelty on that 

 bird's part which a friend witnessed and reported to me. 

 He was passing by Apsley House at Hyde Park corner 

 one Spring morning when he noticed a Jackdaw pounce 

 on a Pigeon which was about one of the ornamental parts 

 of that mansion. The Jackdaw literally tore the poor 

 bird to pieces. Whether the Pigeon was invading 

 ground the Jackdaw looked upon as its own domain he 

 could not say; but the sight was cruel enough. That 

 this species is intolerant in nature is shown by the fact 

 that 'he would hardly ever nest in the same neighbour- 

 hood as the Chough when this bird was more plentiful 

 than it is now. The Chough has ousted it or at any 

 rate taken its place in Kerry and Donegal, and other 

 wild parts of the Irish coast, though it is numerous in 



