THE JACKDAW

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 77, 27 September 1924, Page 16

THE JACKDAW

ALWAYS PLEASANTLY CHATTERING.

•The jackdaw always seems to conjure up visions of cathedral towers and picturesque ruins, for wherever these are to bo found one will almost certainly hear its cheerful, chattering notes, declares \V." P. Pycraft, in the "Daily Chronicle." Such places seem to possess an irresistible attraction for this sprightly bird. But few birds see.m to adapt themselves more readily to circumstances when, with the awakening of the parental instincts, they set out to find a uest-ing-sile. The lofty church tower, a rabbit burrow, a crcvico in the rock among the ledges of some sea-grit cliff, a hole in a tree, or tho deserted nest of a rook or magpie, seem to be selected with indifference.

They allow themselves the same freedom of choice in the matter of nestbuilding. 'Where space allows, they spein to delight in accumulating a vast quantity of slicks as a foundation. But in confined quarters they arc content with a little grass, supplemented by a linin" of wool, fur, or hair, which they will mil hesitate to pluck from tho backs of sheep or deer. On occasion they will build a largo nest in a tree, ah"d this may, or may not, be roofed' aftor the fashion of tho magpie. Booties and caterpillars form ihe staplo diet. But this is varied by a little fruit, a.ld, it must he confessed, unguarded »ggs and nestlings. One can hardly tiAuk of jackdaws without nho thinkh s of rooks, for one so commonly finds t^y two' species travelling about "together. You shall always easily distinguish the one from the other. Kor the jackdaw is markedly the smaller bird, and he is always pleasantly chattering. l;'nr-llicnuoi-o. he is marked out. hum liis shMc companions by reasons"of his : »rcy napu. and, if vwi *aiv near onouirl? to scu them, his while c.mjj. wlii._U" -ivc hiiu a very unuauaJ. appoLumiLis