THE JACKDAW ABROAD. 
daw, and while they were in the lowest whispers consulting 
as to which part of the house to visit first, “mind the reckoning” 
smote their guilty ears. They were in the dark, and could not 
tell from whence the sepulchral sounds proceeded. “ Good Lord! ” 
whispered one of the burglars, “ I trust we ” “ No trust! no 
trust!” cried the same dreadful voice, “mind the reckoning! 
mind the reckoning!” So the thieves leapt from the window 
and scrambled over the garden wall, leaving their ugly tools 
behind them. 
It seems that the jackdaw is a worse character abroad than 
at home. Bishop Stanley gives evidence against the daw of 
Ceylon, and his description of the way the vagabond bird obtains 
a living, is most animated and interesting. “ In the island of 
Ceylon,” says the worthy naturalist, “these birds (jackdaws) 
are extremely impudent and troublesome ; and it is found very 
difficult to exclude them from the houses, which, on account of 
the heat, are built open, and much exposed to intruders. In 
the town of Colombo, where they are in the habit of picking 
up bones and other things from the streets and yards, and 
carrying them to the tops of the houses, a battle usually 
takes place for the plunder, to the great annoyance of the 
people below, on whose heads they shower down the loosened 
tiles, leaving the roofs exposed to the weather. They frequently 
snatch bread and meat from the dining-table, even when it is 
surrounded with guests ; always seeming to prefer the company 
of man, as they are continually seen hopping about near houses, 
and rarely to be met with in woods or retired places. They 
are, however, important benefactors to the natives ; making 
ample compensation for their intrusion and knavery, for they 
are voracious devourers of carrion, and instantly consume all 
sorts of dirt, offal, or dead vermin. * * * * On this account 
they are much esteemed by the natives, their mischievous tricks 
and impudence are put up with, and they are never suffered 
to be shot, or otherwise molested.” 
He has a relation in North America, known, by the name of 
the Cinereous Crow, who for impudence and pilfering is, 
perhaps, the most accomplished of the family. According to 
Heame, this bird will steal all sorts of provisions, no matter 
whether they are fresh or salt. It will hop into the tent of the 
hunter or Indian, and coolly perch upon the edge of the kettle by 
the fire, and draw the victuals out of the dishes. Indeed his depre- 
dations know no bounds, and he is often very troublesome to the 
hunter, whom he will sometimes follow all day long. While 
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