22 AUGUST 1896, Page 16

A BIRD-STORY.

[To ms ED/TOR OF THE "SPZCTAT0R."] SIR,— A curious instance of friendship among animals occurred here the other day. We had often noticed a tame jackdaw at a cottage on our way to church, but missing it for several weeks, we were told on inquiry that it had died of grief. It had made a deep and lasting friend of a cock-, which had been sold by its mistress, who did not know of this bond. The jackdaw for some time spent its life in flying from place to place wherever it heard a cock crowing,. but alas ! none of these was its own cock. It refused all food and moped till it died.—I am, Sir, &c.,