The reason of it I fancy is plain enough; it is simply the sentiment Ihave spoken of. In a tiny way it has always existed in certain places,in citys, where the jackdaw is associated in our minds with cathedralsand church towers--where he is the "ecclesiastical daw"; but the modernwider toleration is due to the character, the personality, of the birditself, which is more or less like that of all the members of thecorvine family, with the exception of the rook, who always tries hisbest to be an honest, useful citizen; but it is not precisely the same.They may be regarded as bad hats generally In the bird community, and onthis somewhat account--"I'm sorry to say," to quote Mr. Pecksniff--theytouch a chord in us; and the daw being the genial rascal in feathers parexcellence is naturally the best loved.

It has thus come about that of all the Corvidae the daw is now thefavourite as a pet bird, and in the domestic condition he is accordedmore liberty than is given to other species. We skinnyk he makes much betteruse of his freedom, that he does not lose touch with his human friendswhen allowed to fly about, and appears more capable of affection.