THE STAELING. 77 



skill between the birds, each trying to gain the disputed 

 nesting-place. 



In towers, old trees, and similar places, the jackdaws en- 

 deavour to supplant the owls, and the Starlings endeavour to 

 extirpate the jackdaws. On the ground under such places may 

 be seen whole heaps of sticks, dropped by the jackdaw while 

 endeavouring to make its nest, and showing how strangely 

 circumscribed are the reasoning powers of lower beings. 



In many things the jackdaw is a wonderfully clever bird, 

 displaying such an amount of ingenuity in its actions, that 

 its rational capacities are evidently very great. But, however 

 clever a bird may be, and however admirably it may adapt its 

 actions to surrounding circumstances, it is sure to break down 

 suddenly in an unexpected manner, and to fail in the easiest 

 part of its task. A jackdaw, for example, will go afield in 

 search of sticks, and will spend some time in selecting a branch 

 that will serve its purpose. It lifts, and drops, and turns, and 

 weighs the branch, displaying great acumen in its task, and 

 occupying much time in making a proper selection. Wlien it 

 has chosen a suitable branch, it flies away to the spot it has 

 chosen for its nest. 



"When taking up the branch, the jackdaw mostly carries it by 

 the middle, because it can be easily balanced when so held. But 

 the bird forgets that a branch held crosswise will not enter a 

 small aperture, and accordingly it finds itself checked when 

 endeavouring to gain admission to its domicile. It flutters 

 about in great dismay, and tries with all its powers to force the 

 branch into the hole ; but it never thinks of the simple expe- 

 dient of taking the branch by the end, and pushing it length- 

 wise through the entrance ; and after it has wearied itself out 

 in vain attempts, it drops the branch and goes off for another. 

 Beneath the many nesting-places at Walton Hall may be seen 

 a wonderful number of sticks which have been thus dropped. 

 Mr. Waterton lately drew my attention to a rapidly-accumvdating 

 pile of, dead branches, which had been dropped by a jackdaw 

 which was making its nest in a small window in the stable front. 

 In this favoured place the birds know that they will not be 

 injured, and so they pennit their proceedings to be watched 

 without exhibiting any shyness. 



Old towers are very favourite haunts of the Starling, who 



