■ ■ ■ ■ H I.r
The Jack-Daw. Mo^edula;
Numb. XlV.
J T S Length from the tip of the Bill to the end of ,the T ail was 13
-*■ Inches and a half, the Breadth when the Wings are extended z Feet
4 Inches, its Weight near io Ounces ; the Bill ftfong, from the Point to
the Angles of the Mouth an Inch and a quarter long; the Noftrils round,
with a covert of little hairy Feathers over them and half the Bill; the Tongue
cloven, the Iridis of the Eyes whitiih, the Ears large.
The whole Plumage is black with a bluifh Glofs, except the hinder Part
as far as the middle of the Neck, which inclines to light afh Colour, as is
alfo the Breaft and Belly, but leis.
The Number of prime Feathers in each Wing is zo, of which the firft
is fhorter by half than the fecond, the third and fourth the longeft of all;
from the eleventh the fix following have the tops of their Vanes fo running
forth on each fide above their Shafts, that they feem to be notched in their
tops, and from the Angle of that Notch the Shaft of the Feather is continued
in form of a Brittle. The Tail is made up of twelve Feathers,
whereof the exterior are fomewhat fhorter; the Length of the Tail is y
Inches and a half.
The tack Toe and Claw are larger thanin other Birds are ufual; the out-
moft Fore-toe is join’d to the middlemoft at the- bottom, as in the reft of
this kind; it hath no Craw; the Stomach is mufculous; the Length of the
Guts was 24 Inches. It feeds on Nuts, Fruits, and InfeBs; the Appendices
dr blind Guts finall, and fcarce an Inch long.
Its Head is large in refpeit to its Body; he feems to be a crafty and ingenious
Bird; they ufually frequent and build in ancient Cajllps, Churches,
and ruinous Buddings, in great Numbers, and fometimes in Trees; they
lay five or fix Eggs, letter and paler, and having fewer Spots than thofe
of Crows.