2g The Fackdaw. 
a rr rnc 

St eae ae ame ee ae —— 
where the nest is built. We can understand why the 
rook, magpie, or any other bird that builds on boughs 
in open air, and requires a strong foundation, should 
make choice of sticks; but we cannot see why the 
Jackdaw should use such a great quantity of wood 
when a base is often made by the ending of the recess 
in which it builds; it is certain it does not there re- 
quire that support. We have heard of this bird taking 
a number of sticks, and attempting to build in the 
chimney of an old ruin, where, as a matter of course, 
the sticks having no resting-place, all fall to the ground. 
Such ignorance and stupidity as this is peculiar to 
the Jackdaw. It lines its nest with warm’ materials, 
and lays four or five eggs, which may be found in the 
month of May. 
- The Daw likes to be in companies: after the young 
have left their nest, they join the rooks, and are seen 
together until the next spring. They roost on the top 
of high trees after the period of incubation; and I 
favour the idea that, after the first pairing of these 
birds, they do not again disunite, as I have seen a 
couple building in the same place for two springs— 
one having some white on its wing, the other a feather 
showing white in its tail: probably these birds were 
