Class II. JACK-DAW. CQ7 



which Mr. Wittughby says argues him to be in- 

 genious and crafty ; the irides are white ; the 

 forehead is black ; the hind part of the head a 

 fine light grey ; the breast and belly of dusky 

 hue, inclining to ash-color ; the rest of the plum- 

 age is black, slightly glossed with blue; the 

 feet and bill black ; the claws'very strong, and 

 hooked. It is a docile loquacious bird. 



Jack-daws breed in steeples, old castles, and 

 in high rocks ; laying five or six eggs. I have 

 known them sometimes to breed in hollow trees 

 near a rookery, and join those birds in their 

 foraging parties. In some parts of Hampshire 

 they make their nests in rabbet holes : they also 

 build in the interstices between the upright and 

 transome stones of StoTx-Henge ; a proof of the 

 prodigious height of that stupendous antiquity, 

 for their . nests are placed beyond the reach of 

 the shepherd-boys, who are always idling about 

 the spot. [Their nests are awkwardly composed 

 of a quantity of dry sticks, thickly lined with 

 wool, hair, &c. : they lay five or six eggs some- 

 what like those of the Magpie, but rather thick- 

 er, and the spots larger and more distinct. When 

 they can, they build as contiguous to each other 

 as Rooks do, and agree in society much better.] 

 They are gregarious birds ; and feed on insects 3 

 grain, and seeds. 



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