JACKDAW. 
239 
ignorant. Temminck, in his Supplement, adds, 
that it is extremely common in mountainous 
parts of the Morca.* 
In country localities the Jackdaw is a clean 
and agreeable looking bird, and the adult male, 
in the height of his breeding plumage, is not 
devoid of beauty, while the bright and peculiarly 
pale coloured iris always conveys an idea of 
activity and sprightliness, however much the 
plumage may be dulled by the dirt and smoke of 
towns. Length of the male about thirteen and a half, 
or fourteen inches j crown of the head rich black, 
with violet reflections, forming a circular cap or 
crown ; back part of the head, cheeks, nape, and 
sides of the neck, dark smoke gray ; the feathers 
loose and unconnected ; upper parts, wings and 
tail, black, with blue and violet reflections ; the 
under parts blackish gray, nearly dull black on 
the chin, and with the tips, for nearly half an 
inch in breadth on the breast, paler ; the irides 
are clear grayish white, and add much to the 
lively appearance of the bird. The female is 
rather less, being only about thirteen inches in 
length, the markings on the head are rather less 
distinct, and the upper parts are of a blackish 
gray, with violet reflections. Cream coloured 
and dusky varieties are not unfrequent ; the 
former presenting the characters of an albino 
having the irides red. Pied varieties also occur. 
Supp. p. 61. 
