• JACKDAWS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—Not the least interesting among the various subjects discussed in your paper, to many of your admiring subscribers, amongst whom I venture to class myself, is that which treats of the habits, and illustrates by facts the intelligence displayed by various animals. I trast that the following anecdote may be found worthy of a corner in your columns.
The gatekeeper at a works in which I am interested, • had the misfortune the other day to be laid up with a twisted ankle, which confined him to his bed. An old " salt," having earned his pension in —, he, sailor-like, surrounded himself with pets of all kinds, amongst others being a couple of excellent fox-tethers, and a little jackdaw. I have seen Master Jack,' presiding over the plate or dish on which the dog's meal and his was pro- vided, first of all help himself, the other two sitting by the side looking on, and when satisfied, allowing the others, one at a time only, to fall on. Jack,' with a smart peck on the nose or tail, kept them in admirable order, and "weighed each portion with judicious care," until each had had its fair share.
This is only par parenthese. Topsy,' as pretty a little lady as one may well meet, at the time of H—'s accident gave birth to a litter of five, overlaid three in the night, leaving but two blind survivors. His pets missed their master. First Jack' hops upstairs to the bedroom, perches on a chair, and says, " What, what P" looks round, and disappears. Presently Topsy ' comes up and looks round, and in her turn departs ; but only to return, bringing suc- cessively her two surviving puppies in her month, which she duly deposited on the bed by H—'s side. I am informed that none of the animals have been ever allowed up the stairs, and I know them to sleep outside the house.
I hear to-day that Jack ' will not be denied, and whenever Mrs. H—'s back is turned, up the stairs he hops, perches as before, and cries, "What, what?" until he is summarily ejected.—I am, Sir, &c.
P.S.—' Jack' has already hidden a shirt-stud, and mas- sacred a couple of promising young chickens,—to prove his good breeding.
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