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British Cage Birds. 



General Remarks. — Jackdaws, like Eooks, are both cautious 

 and vigilant. They are faithful in their attachments, and, when 

 once paired, remain together until separated by death. There is 

 a variety of Daw in Switzerland which possesses a white collar, 

 and in Norway and Russia birds all white are frequently seen. 

 The Jackdaw is a very audacious, venturesome bird, and 

 deliberately settles on the backs of sheep, not merely to search for 

 and capture insects, but also to help himself with wool where- 

 with to line his nest. Like Magpies and Ravens, these birds have 

 a propensity to thieve, although with them it is not so strongly 

 developed. They, however, possess a natural instinct to secrete 

 their food, or such part as they cannot consume, and have a 

 curious and comical way of examining all objects that are bright 

 or dazzling, such as brass buttons, thimbles, coins, steel beads, 

 or other glittering articles, and will look out for a favourable 

 opportunity to carry them off to some hiding-place. 



In winter. Jackdaws associate with Rooks, and may frequently 

 be seen, especially in the early morning, winging their way, 

 in the company of these birds, over vast tracts of land, in search 

 of newly-ploughed fields, where worms and larvae are most easily 

 procured. They seldom display any hostile feelings toward 

 each other ; on the contrary, acts of friendship are often 

 noticed between them. When feeding with Rooks, Daws are 

 easily recognised, not only by their being smaller, but by their 

 majestic and stately movements ; and when they walk they 

 display more agility and vivacity. 



Diseases and their Treatment. — Jackdaws are uncommonly 

 hardy birds, and rarely ail anything. In the moulting season 

 they sometimes display a lack of vigour, and sleep much, but a 

 few worms, insects, and grubs, will speedily revive them. They 

 are occasionally affected with skin diseases, through being fed 

 too exclusively on animal food ; as treatment, give bread and 

 boiled potatoes, and a little wild garlic, of which they eat freely. 

 Bathe the parts affected with a weak solution of Goulard's 

 Extract, sugar of lead, or sulphate of zinc. When they are 

 observed to suffer from laxness of the bowels, put a sprinkling of 

 prepared chalk among their food. If they are affected with 

 costiveness, add a few grains of Epsom salts to their drinking- 

 water. When well cared for, these birds live to a good age. 



