558 BRITISH BIRDS. 



strictly gregarious and lives in colonies of greater or less extent according 

 to the accommodation of the site selected. In the morning they may be 

 seen passing through the air in rapid flight to their distant pastures^ where 

 they spend the day ; and when evening approaches they collect together, 

 and either join the large flights of Rooks or return by themselves to their 

 own homes. Dixon gives the following description of this peculiar 

 habit : — " I have often been struck with the great regularity of movement 

 practised by the Jackdaw ; and it is one of the most interesting sights an 

 ornithologist can see, to take your station near some large haunt and 

 watch the birds approach to roost. A large colony of Jackdaws live in the 

 mighty limestone cliff's which are crowned with the now crumbling ruin of 

 the Keep of the once famous Peveril Castle in the High Peak. Their nests 

 are built in the holes of this inaccessible cliff, whose base is tunnelled by 

 the famous cavern known as ' Devil's Hole.'' Here at sunset perhaps not 

 a bird can be seen, for they are away on the pastures ; but as the darkness 

 gathers their well-known cries disturb the air, and the birds appear in 

 view flying closely together and perhaps accompanied by a few Rooks. 

 Then may be seen their pleasing aerial motions ; the whole flock seem in 

 commotion, and buffet each other, wheel and glide and circle in the air, 

 ere they perch a few at a time on the stunted trees growing out of the 

 rocks. Then begins a noisy tumult — not in one long uproar, but in fit- 

 ful clashes like a peal of bells — as the birds strive for points of vantage on 

 the branches, or crowd each other off the rocks. Many will be seen to 

 A-isit their nest-holes ; but I do not think they roost in them, but summer 

 and winter alike select the branches of these few trees for a roosting- 

 place. Notice, too, how the birds sit in pairs, marks of affection often 

 passing between them ; for the Daw most certainly is mated to its partner 

 for life. As darkness deepens the noise subsides ; but even now the hoary 

 old chasm will resound with their cackling notes as some fresh disturbance 

 arouses the colony roosting so high above our heads." 



The flight of the Jackdaw differs considerably from that of the Rook 

 and, indeed, from that of all the larger Crows. It is performed by a series 

 of rapid flappings, very unsteady and wavering at times, but remarkable 

 for its singular evolutions. The Jackdaw's wing is comparatively long 

 and pointed ; and the bird -\vill glide with great rapidity from side to side 

 or stoop like a Hawk, and then, bounding upwards with a peculiar sidelong 

 motion, again pursue its course. The note of the Jackdaw is a cry some- 

 thing like (iiacJ<, often varied with a shrill kind of scream. Although 

 harsh, it is perhaps less so than that of the other Crows we have in our 

 islands. It is said that in many districts the Jackdaw has driven away 

 the Chough from its old haunts on our maritime cliffs ; and it is not 

 improbable that such is really the case. 



The Jackdaw builds its nest almost wherever it can find a suitable hole 



