The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-11-05
IoNDoN's B1RD-ABOUr-r0wN.
Widely.Known JackdAw That
Travelled Around for Years ON
Buses and Trans.

Though by no means aged as jack
davis go, the remarkable bird which
has just died at the Angel Brfxton,
had made considerable reputation
during nearly II years of its associa-
ton with mankind, and the original
purchase price of 18 pence which was
paid by its owner, Mr.. Thomas Beck,
some ten years ago, was but fraction
of its value at the time of its death.
Wonderful intelligence and no less
surprising originality of behavior
were the characteristics of Jack, who
was a favorite with all in the Brixon
district, though his roaming habits
had made him not unfamiliar in other
parts of the metropolis, says the Lon
don Telegraph. :.
In his very early and irresponsible
youth Jack. was a mischievous daw,
but after his first owner, a little
schoolboy, had sold him to Mr.. Beck
his manners became more sedate;
though they never lacked variety, the
consequence being that scores of we'll
authenticated stories are extant OF
the birds feats and his remarkable in
telligence and memory. His first
home was private house at ClaPham;
but after he became an inmate seven
years ago of the Angel, at the corner
of Loughborough road, he took more
extended view of life, until his exploits
became of almost worldwide fame, for
among those who have been to pay
him visit have been large number
-
seeing, have coveted this sprightly
bird.
Jacks first flight from home was
when he sailed to the roof of house
opposite the Angel. He returned safe
ly to the call of his master, but this
excursion evidently gave him conf
dence, and thenceforward it was his
practice to leave and return to his
home whenever the spirit moved him.
In his restless moods, it was his habit
to alight on the tramcars and buses
which passed the door and journey
with the conductors to such places as
the Elephant and Castle, Westminster,
Blackfriars Bridge and Strea than. An
other favorite resort of this strange
bird was the police station, whence,
after favoring the constables with his
company for an hour or two, he would
leave for home on tramcaf, like the
Independent citizen he was. These
ha bits and the general friendliness he
displayed toward those who treated
him kindly made the jackdaw an inn
mense favorite in the neighborhood,
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 confident and personal
friend of his owner, whom he followed
about the house and regarded with re-
marka BILE fidelity. An original genius,
Jack scorned the roosting places of
ordinary members of his species, and
chose as his perch the neck Of wine
bottle resting in a basket on the bar
counter. Settled there at bedtime, he
sleepily said: tsGood-hight'' in his own
bird language to his master, but he
was the first up in the morning, and
signified the same by regularly rap
ping at Mr.. Beck's bedroom door. Hav-
ing superintendent his masters tub
bling operations, Jack invariably
hoped down to the bar, and, stand
ing in the basin under the water top,
waited until he received a refreshing
shower. This was his daily bath,
which he never neglected. :
At the time of his death Jack was
and the day before he died
he took two baths, the suggestion be-
ing that he was trying to alleviate the
tiresome irritation which accom-
panied his annual feather shedding.
Whether this had anything to do with
his death is not known, but the next
Jack was found dead UNDER
meath his extemporized perch. This
sharp-witted jackdaw, who was
friendly with all who behaved prop
erly toward him never forgot a foe,
and would unerringly recognize and
attack persons who had ill-treated
him. He was a clever trickster, and 4
joke he sometimes enjoyed was flying
off with the small change of unob-
servant customers. Still, he never
made an enemy. Jack will be stuffed
and be represented as perching on the
bottle, his grasp of which he relin-
pushed when death took him.