JACKDAW. 
237 
from particular circumstances, in the same way 
that rabbit-warrens are in some districts much 
frequented, and on the rocky islands, or near the 
shores, where this little animal is often kept and 
abounds, their burrows are used by the Jackdaw 
as well as by various sea fowl, (the sheldrake, 
puffins, petrels, &c.) nevertheless, we consider 
rocky and mountainous places to be their natural 
resorts. On many parts of the sea coast, and 
upon inland rocks, have, in ancient times, been 
placed old castles, or places of defence, and 
now amidst their ruins a colony is always to be 
found spreading themselves also over the suit- 
able parts of the adjacent crag ; but around 
all the northern shores of Scotland, where build- 
ings are less frequent, there are many colonies 
of this bird, and apparently in places where 
nothing but the natural fitness of the situa- 
tion could attract them. Here the nest is built 
in fissures, in holes, or in the interior of caves, 
and often outwardly exhibits a vast assemblage 
of sticks, sometimes partially concealed by a 
drapery of ivy, or other wild creepers. Many 
nests are often placed together, so near that the 
birds almost touch, at the same time there is no 
interference or community of hatching, and the 
entrance is generally by different apertures. In 
cultivated districts, again, where there is a want 
of the retreats incident to buildings, they live 
in small companies intermingled with the common 
rook, with which they seem always to associate 
in terms perfectly friendly, and in the rookery 
