JACKDAW. 205 



INSESSORES. CORVIDJE. 



CONIROSTRES. 



PLATE CXXVIII. 



JACKDAW. 



CORVUS MONEDULA. 



This smaller species of the Corvus family is probably well 

 known in all parts of this country, and is in some localities 

 very plentiful. It associates much with the Rooks, accom- 

 panying those birds in their flights, and feeding among them. 

 They may be distinguished at any visible distance by their 

 inferior size, and by their peculiar cry of " Jac ! jac ! " which 

 they often utter while on the wing. In their manner of 

 flight they differ from the Rooks, their companions, moving 

 their wings with a quicker, flapping motion, and are seldom 

 observed to sail. When near enough for more close observa- 

 tion, they may readily be known by the grey neck or collar ; 

 which in some specimens is very pale in tint, approaching to 

 silvery white. This species, like some others of its family, 

 is capable of being readily tamed and reduced to domestica- 

 tion, in which state his manners are amusing ; but on the 

 whole he is a very troublesome pet, as he not only is a most 

 merciless and voracious enemy among cherry-trees, goose- 

 berries, and other fruits, as soon as they are ripe, but even 

 enters the dwelling-house of his master, and sometimes of all 

 his neighbours round, where he commits many acts of pilfer- 

 ing, and will slily abstract and carry away any small glitter- 



