248 
JACKDAWS. 
tearing up by tbe roots, for tbe purpose of getting at 
the grubs, already alluded to in our description of 
Rooks. The way they set about it was this : — -they 
would walk quietly oyer the surface, every now and 
then turning their heads with the ear towards the 
ground, listening attentively in a most significant 
manner. Sometimes they appeared to listen in vain, 
and then walked on, till at length, instead of moving 
from the spot, they fell to picking a hole as fast as 
their heads could nod, just like the Thrushes before 
mentioned; and, in the end, almost always succeeded 
in extracting a few large grubs, with which, as soon 
as the fortunate finder had secured one, he hopped off 
to enjoy his delicate morsel, followed and jostled by 
the rest, who had been less successful in their search ; 
adding another proof of the utility of birds in rid- 
ding us from injurious insects,— and all in favour 
of the Rook family. In every part of the world, the 
character of the Jackdaw tribe seems to be the 
same. 
Thus in the island of Ceylon, in India, these birds 
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 
