Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-01
A REMARKABLE JAcKDAW.
Rode About London on the Buses
and Street Cars.

From the London Telegraph.
Though by no means aged as jackdaws
go. the remarkable bird which has Just died
at the Angel, Brixton, had made consid-
cradle reputation during the nearly eleven
years Of it's association with mankind, and
the original purchase price of IS pence
which was paid by its owner Mr.. Thomas
Beck some ten years ago, was but frac-
ton of its value at the time of it's death.
Wonderful intelligence and no less surpris-
ing originality Of behavior were the charac-
teristicS Of Jack, who was a favorite with
all in the Brixton district, though his roam
ing habits had made him not unfamiliar in
other parts of the metropolis. In his very
early and irresponsible youth Jack was a
mischievous daw, but after his first owner
a little schoolboy. bad sold him to Mr..
Beck his manners became more sedate,
though they never lacked variety, the con-
sequence being that scores of well-authen-
ticated stories are eXtant Of the birds feats
and his remarkable intelligence and mem
DRY. His first home was private house at
Chaplain, but after he became an inmate
seven years ago of the Angel at the corner
of Loughborough road, he took more eX
tended view OF life, until his exploits be-
came of almost worldwide fame, for among
those who have been to pay him a visit
have been a large number of Americans
and Australians. who, seeing, have coveted
this Sprightly bird.
Jacks first flight from home when
he sailed % the roof of a house opposite
the Angel. He returned safely to the call
of his master, but this excursion evidently
gave him confidence, and thenceforward it
his practice to leave and return to his
home whenever the spirit moved him. In
his restless moods 1t was his habit to alight
on the tram cars and buses which passed
his door and journey with the conductors
to such places the Elephant and Castle.
Westminster, Blackfriars bridge and
how thar far ita Snrfn If &c
strange bird was the police station, whence,
after favoring the constables with his com
pany for hour or two, he would leave
for home a tram car. like the indepen-
dent citizen he was. These habits and the
General friendliness he displayed toward
those who treated him kindly made the
jackdaw an immense favorite in the neigh
borhood, and the news of his sudden death
brought great sorrow to his master and
mistress, as well as to his many admirers.
At home Jack led a very systematic life.
First and foremost he was the confidant
and personal friend of his owner, whom he
followed about the house and regarded with.
remarkable fidelity. An original genius.
Jack scorned the roosting places of ordinary
members Of his species. and chose as his
perch the neck of a wine bottle resting'in a.
basket on the bar counter. Settled here
at bedtime, he sleepi1y said Good night
in his own bird language to his master, but
he was the first up in the morning, and sig
nif1ed the same by regularly rapping at Mr..
Becks bedroom door. Having superintendent
his masters Tubing operations, Jack in
variably hoped down to the bar, and,
standing in the basin under the water tap,
waited till he received refreshing shower.
This was his daily bath, which he never.
neglected.
At the time Of bis death Jack was molt-
ing and lie day before he died he took two
baths the suggestion being that he was
trying to alleviate the tiresome irritation
which accompanied his annual feather she'd.
ding Whether this had anything to do
with his death is not known but the next
morning Jack was found dead underneath
his extemporiZed perch. This sharp witted
jackdaw, who was friendly with all who
behaved properly toward him, never forgot
a foe, and would unerringly recognize and
attack persons who had ill-treated him. He
was a clever trickster, and joke he some
times enjoyed was flying off with the small
change of unobservant customers. Still,
he never made enemy. Jack will, be
stuffed and be represented as perching on
the bottle. his grasp of which he reln,
pushed when death took him.