THE JAY. 315 



behind the head, changing when exposed to the different rays of 

 light. A jackdaw once appeared here with a remarkable portion of 

 white in one of the wings ; it tarried with us for two years, and then 

 disappeared for ever. Probably the singularity of its wing had 

 attracted the fatal notice of some experienced gunner, in its pere- 

 grinations beyond this vale of safety. 



The jackdaw, like the rook, collects insects in its mouth, to feed 

 its young ; and this gives it the appearance of a pouch under the 

 lower mandible. 



I know not how far naturalists will agree with me in the specula- 

 tion that these birds remain in pairs the year throughout. When 

 November's winds have stripped the sycamore of its every leaf, I see 

 the daws sitting in pairs, side by side, upon the naked branches. 

 They seem fond of preening each other's heads ; and, as they mostly 

 leave the trees in pairs, and in pairs return, I am led to conjecture 

 that their union is not dissolved at the period when the young no 

 longer need parental aid. 



He who is fond of rural scenes, and loves to rove 



" On a mountain's lonely van, 

 Beyond the noise of busy man, 

 Painting i'air the form of things, 

 While the yellow linnet sings, 

 Or the tuneful nightingale 

 Charms the forest with her tale " 



will never bring his mind to drive away this playful merry bird, or 

 allow his gardener to take its life, for the value of a handful of 

 cherries. 



THE JAY. 



OUR peas and ripe cherries have attractions which this well-known 

 bird cannot resist. To these it unfortunately resorts, and loses its 

 life by the gun of the watchful gardener, who never fails to magnify a 

 petty act of plunder into a downright commission of felony. Forget- 



