THE JACKDAW 77 



which his own good services have increased immeasur- 

 ably to our benefit. That ancient poet who wrote of the 

 cave where 



" Birds obscene, 

 Of ominous note, resorted, choughs and daws." 



was not so good an agriculturist as one might have 

 expected him to be. 



Cowper appreciated the character of the Jackdaw to 

 the full. He says 



" There is a bird who, by his coat 

 And by the hoarseness of his note, 

 Might be supposed a crow. 

 A great frequenter of the church, 

 Where, bishop-like, he finds a perch, 

 And dormitory too. 



Thrice happy bird, I too have seen 



Much of the vanities of men, 

 . And, sick of having seen 'em, 



Would cheerfully these limbs resign 

 . For such a pair of wings as thine, 



And such a head between 'em." 



