104 CORVID^E. 



nearer the residence of man, and sometimes taking shelter 

 under the roof of his dwelling. They have also an air of 

 greater cheerfulness and activity in their movements. 

 Jackdaws appear to prefer cultivated districts, frequenting 

 and building in church towers, belfries, and steeples. I 

 have observed that a great number constantly inhabit the 

 higher parts of Windsor Castle. Sometimes these birds 

 make their nests in hollow trees : from several good au- 

 thorities we learn that Jackdaws breed frequently in rab- 

 bit-burrows, and on the sea coast they occupy cavities in 

 high cliffs, or perpendicular rocks. It is mentioned by 

 Pennant that these birds make their nests among the 

 large masses of stone at Stone Henge, one nest was ob- 

 served there recently, and Rusticus of Godalming says 

 they build in great numbers in the chalk pit on Katherine 

 Hill, near Godalming. The Rev. Leonard Jenyns, in a 

 note to me, says, " In Cambridgeshire Jackdaws build 

 very much in chimneys, which are sometimes quite 

 stopped up from the quantity of sticks brought together. 

 Neither do they appear to mind smoke, as I have known 

 them attempt to build in the chimney of a room in which 

 there was a fire kept pretty regularly from day to day. 

 From the quantity of horse -dung which falls into the 

 grates, it would seem that they use this material perhaps 

 for lining the nest." Wool, and other soft substances, are 

 the materials generally used for the lining, the outside is 

 formed of sticks, and the mass CQllected together is some- 

 times very extraordinary both in quality as well as quan- 

 tity. At Cambridge, says Mr. J. Denson,* there is good 

 accommodation for Jackdaws in the abundant receptacles 

 for their nests which the various churches and college build- 

 ings supply, and Jackdaws are numerous at Cambridge. 



* Magazine of Natural History, vol. vi. p. 397. 



