NATURE NOTES. 
162 
caught in the neighbourhood. Of these, one of the blackbirds 
and the hedge sparrow have pink eyes. 
As a proof of the health of the birds, one of the white black- 
birds has made two nests this year, but no young have been 
reared. The snowy whiteness of this bird, its vivacity and fear- 
lessness, are most delightful. Others have nested altogether 
eleven times. Further, it is probable that none of these birds 
would long have survived in the wild state, even if they had not 
been wantonly shot. 
It is of the jackdaws I wish to give an account. These are 
most sagacious birds, and have their full liberty and perfect 
power of flight ; they are singularly lively, their soft blue eyes 
are very conspicuous against the whiteness of their heads, but 
they differ very much in disposition. On my first visit to Mrs. 
Ingram, the tamest of these birds, “ Darling,” also the most 
inquisitive, seeing I was a stranger, flew after me into the draw- 
ing room, and sat on the pole of the curtain, eyeing me in a know- 
ing manner, then flew on the table, picked up a letter, examined 
it, and apparently seeing no more to excite her curiosity, flew out 
of the door. If you appeared to be investigating anything in the 
grounds, in a fraction of a minute she was at your side ; if you 
sat down she at once occupied one of the arms of the seat ; if 
you went up a tower in the pleasance, as soon as you reached 
the top of the staircase she was there ; she would go with the 
members of the family to the sea shore and follow them about. 
What is even more wonderful, this affectionate bird is taken 
by Mr. Ingram in the autumn to Over Silton, in Yorkshire, 
where she takes long walks with Mrs. Ingram, flying from tree 
to tree. Upon the whole I deem this white jackdaw to be the 
most charming bird it was ever my good fortune to meet with. 
The other two white jackdaws are not so interesting ; one is 
rather morose, and though it is perfectly tame and follows one 
about, it resents being touched ; the third is rather more under 
restraint, as it is apt to roam. Although the white blackbirds 
have not reared any of their own young, one has brought up 
nearly a dozen normal blackbirds and thrushes. 
Mr. Ingram’s son, Mr. Collingwood, has a subtle power over 
birds, and appears able to make them love him. He took me into 
a room where he had some blue tits ; these sweet little birds flew 
on to my hand, and in the most fearless manner looked in my 
face, then flew on to his hand and devoured a cherry. 
There is a beautiful specimen of the Australian piping crow in 
the garden, which, although its wings are not quite perfect, could 
easily escape if it tried to do so, but it seems quite content to 
remain. 
Another feature of the pleasance is the ample food supplied 
for the wild birds, which nest there in great numbers ; as many 
as fifteen turtle doves may be seen on the lawn at one time ; from 
early morning till late in the evening these beautiful birds are 
continually arriving, and departing with food for their young 
