PERSISTENT JACKDAWS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sitt,—Jackdaws are not satisfied with filling the netted chimney with sticks ; they finish them off with something soft as a lining. Early last summer I saw two daws busily plucking off the shaggy coat of a donkey's back—what they did with it I didn't know until we were obliged in the late autumn to light a fire in a bedroom. As no smoke went up the chimney it was necessary to put out the fire and clear the chimney, The chimney sweep's long screw pulled down a whole chimney- full of sticks ; the last pull brought down a big ball of the donkey's coat.
I may say that at first the donkey did not like the hair- dressers' attention, but after a while he felt cooler and seemed to enjoy it. It is certainly good advice to net the chimney tops. I have done so for years and it has prevented much trouble, although it did not in this case.—I am, Sir, &c., J. R.
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