THE STARLING. 95 



In tovyers, old trees, and similar places, th'e jackdaws endeavor 

 to supplant %he owls, and the Starlings endeavor to extirpate the 

 jackdaws. On the ground under such places may be seen whole 

 heaps of sticks, dropped by the jackdaw while endeavoring 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, dis- 

 playing such an amount of ingenuity in its actions, that its ra- 

 tional 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. When 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 fqrgets that a branch held crosswise will not enter a 

 small aperture, and accordingly it finds itself checked when en- 

 deavoring 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 expedient of tak- 

 ing the branch by the end, and pushing it lengthwise 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-accumulating pile of dead branch- 

 es, which had been dropped by a jackdaw which was making its 

 nest in a small window in the stable front. In this favored place 

 the birds know that they will not be injured, and so they permit 

 their proceedings to be watched without exhibiting any shyness. 



Old towers are very favorite haunts of the Starling, who builds 

 in close proximity to the owl and jackdaw, neither of the three 

 appearing to be disturbed by the presence of the others. In for- 

 est lands the Starling lays its eggs in old trees ; and I have fre- 

 quently looked into a little hole high on the trunk, and seen the 

 eggs lying far below, out of the reach of any foe except the rat, 



