My children have a black dog and a jackdaw; and though the bird shows a
preference for human companionship, when he cannot obtain that he hops
off to the dog's kennel, on the top of which he sits, talking to his
four-footed friend in his own fashion; and the dog seems well-pleased to
receive his visits. I fully expect, some day, to have some curious tale
to tell about them.
In the meantime, I will tell you of a raven which had been brought up
with a dog in Cambridgeshire. They had formed an alliance, offensive
and defensive, and could certainly interchange ideas. The dog was fond
of hares and rabbits, and the raven had no objection to a piece of game
for his dinner. Being both at liberty, they used to set out together
into the country to hunt. The dog would enter a cover and drive out the
hares or rabbits, when the raven, which was watching outside, would
pounce down on the animals as they rushed from the thicket, and hold
them till the dog came to its assistance. They thus managed to obtain
their desired feast--indeed, they were probably more successful than
many human sportsmen.