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(Corvus Monedula, Linn.—Le Choucas, Buff.)
THIS bird is considerably less than the Rook, being only thirteen inches in length, and about twenty-eight in breadth. The bill is black: eyes white; the hinder part of the head and neck hoary grey; the rest of the plumage is of a fine glossy black above; beneath dusky; the legs are black.
The Daw is very common in England, and remains with us the whole year: in other countries, as France and various parts of Germany, it is migratory. They frequent churches, old towers, and ruins, in great flocks, where they build: the female lays five or six eggs, paler than those of the Crow, and smaller. They rarely build in trees: in Hampshire they sometimes breed in rabbit holes.* They are easily tamed, and may be taught to pronounce several words: they will conceal part of their food, and with it small pieces of money, or toys. They feed on insects, grain, fruit, and small pieces of flesh, and will also eat eggs.
There is a variety of the Daw found in Switzerland, having a white collar round its neck. In Norway and even in this country, individuals have been seen perfectly white.
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