§4 The Jackdaw. 



family, and withal extremely fond of society, for, not content 

 with having a flock of his own folk about him, he often thrusts 

 himself into a gang of rooks, and in winter sometimes takes up 

 his abode entirely with them." 



As to thrusting himself into a gang of rooks, I am, however, 

 of opinion that the rooks make him heartily welcome. How do 

 we know what amusement they, with their stolid gravity and 

 solemn dignity, find in him with all his fun and loquacity ? 

 That rooks are really fond of the society of jackdaws is proved 

 by an observation of Mr. Mudie. He says that "in the latter 

 part of the season, when the rooks from one of the most exten 

 sive rookeries in Britain made daily excursions of about six 

 miles to the warm grounds by the seaside, and in their flight 

 passed over a deep ravine, in the sunny side of which were many 

 jackdaws, he observed that when the cawing of the rooks in their 

 morning flight was heard at the ravine, the jackdaws, who had 

 previously been still and quiet, instantly raised their shriller 

 notes, and flew up to join the rooks, both parties clamouring 

 loudly as if welcoming each other ; and that on the return, the 

 daws accompanied the rooks a little past the ravine as if for 

 good fellowship ; then both cawed their farewell : the daws re- 

 turned to their home and the rooks proceeded on their way." 



Jackdaws, like rooks, are said to be excellent weather- 

 prophets. If they fly back to their roost in the forenoon, or 

 early in the afternoon, a storm may be expected that evening, 

 or early in the morning. 



The anecdotes of tame jackdaws are numerous. The Rev. 

 J. G. Wood speaks of one which had learnt the art of kindling 

 lucifer matches, and thus became a very dangerous inmate, 



