3984 Birds. 



was only a short time before I found that the eggs and young disap- 

 peared as mysteriously from other nests, without a mark or vestige of 

 the depredator being left. Still, there was no proof against the jack- 

 daws ; but the gamekeeper having stated he had no doubt of the fact, 

 I desired that some traps should be baited with eggs : but in the first 

 place I ought to relate some other circumstances connected with the 

 subject. 



Immediately under the spot containing the nest and young of the 

 jackdaws, was a dry pit, at the -bottom of which a pheasant had made 

 her nest. This nest was perfectly open to view, and without even a 

 bush or a nettle to hide it, although within a few yards there was 

 plenty of rough stuff to have concealed it ; the pheasant however pre- 

 ferred sitting in the most open spot, and had eleven eggs. For some 

 time the pheasant sat on without interruption, the jackdaws above 

 her keeping up a constant clamour, and flying backwards and forwards 

 to their nest all day long. But shortly after the young daws were 

 hatched, I one day perceived the pheasant's nest without the old bird 

 upon it, and many tail and other feathers lying close by, as if she had 

 been forcibly taken or driven away, which I at first suspected had 

 been done by the foxes. Shortly after this, however, she again made 

 her appearance, and resumed her sitting ; but the next day but one 

 she was again missing: there had evidently been a buffeting and scuf- 

 fling, for many more feathers were left behind, and two eggs broken. 

 The old bird once more returned to her nest, and hatched the re- 

 maining eggs. This mischief I conceive to have been the work of the 

 jackdaws in trying to rob the poor pheasant of her eggs; and as she 

 was near her time, and sat very close, hardly ever quitting her nest 

 except for food, the jackdaws probably did not like to wait for her 

 absence, but, as I suppose, attacked her on her nest. 



Still I had only supposition to go upon ; but in consequence of 

 what the keeper had said, and the evil name he gave the jackdaws for 

 stealing eggs, declaring them to be quite as bad as magpies and crows, 

 I directed that several traps should be set on the tops of the cropped 

 hedges and other elevated places, and covered over ; with a number 

 of small upright sticks stuck round the concealed trap, so that any 

 bird coming to the eggs placed on it as in a kind of nest, would be 

 compelled to alight on the trap. These traps had not been set many 

 days before not only magpies, crows and jays were caught therein, but 

 several jackdaws as well; thus proving their propensity to steal eggs, 

 as the keeper had stated he knew to be the case. 



After this, I desired the keeper to take the young jackdaws, four in 





