Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/500

 482 JACKSON the plumage full and soft ; the tail straight, of 12 hroad, rounded feathers; claws arched and strong. The length is about 15 in., the bill 1J, and the alar extent 30 in. ; the female is slightly smaller. The bill and feet are black, irides grayish white, upper and fore part of the head Jackdaw (Corrus moncdula) black with bluish purple reflections ; grayish black about the eyes and throat; back and sides of neck bluish gray ; rest of plumage gray- ish black, approaching leaden gray on the under parts ; wings and tail black, the latter with the primaries glossed with green, and the seconda- ries with purple. In rare instances, individuals have been found variegated with white. It is a very active, impertinent, playful, and loqua- cious bird, altogether the most agreeable and sociable of the crows. The flight is rapid, very irregular, and generally accompanied with frequent cries. It dwells in ruined buildings, towers, steeples, and retreats in high rocks, and is often found in the heart of large cities ; it nestles in the same places, and occasionally in chimneys, making a large nest, and laying about five bluish white eggs with brown or pale purple spots at the larger end, 1 by 1 in. ; the eggs are laid in May, and the young are abroad by the end of June. Sallying from their retreats at early dawn, they betake themselves to the fields in search of worms, larvae, and in- sects, walking about gracefully, but frequently quarrelling ; they also eat mollusks, Crustacea, fishes, and even carrion; when feeding, they are very vigilant ; they pick up food from the streets with the rooks and pigeons, and possess the corvine propensity to carry to their nests all kinds of objects which can serve for their structures, and to steal shining articles of value ; they may be taught many tricks, and to pro- nounce words. They inhabit Great Britain and most parts of the European continent; species in Asia are very nearly allied to this, both in appearance and habits. JACKSON, the name of 20 counties in the United States. I. A W. county of West Vir- ginia, separated from Ohio by the Ohio river, and drained by Sandy and Big Mill creeks; area, 480 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 10,300, of whom 58 were colored. It has a diversified surface ; the soil near the rivers is fertile, and elsewhere well adapted to grazing. The chief produc- tions in 1870 were 59,845 bushels of wheat, 272,044 of Indian corn, 48,524 of oats, 50,397 of potatoes, 96,265 Ibs. of tobacco, 29,850 of wool, 87,052 of butter, and 2,934 tons of hay. There were 2,558 horses, 2,289 milch cows, 3,644 other cattle, 13,610 sheep, and 8,821 swine ; 2 manufactories of woollen goods, 1 of boats, 7 of cooperage, 3 flour mills, and 7 saw mills. Capital, Ripley. II. A S. W. county of North Carolina, bordering on South Caro- lina, and drained by head waters of the Tennes- see and Savannah rivers ; area, about 750 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 6,683, of whom 274 were colored. The Blue Ridge occupies its S. E. frontier, and the surface is generally moun- tainous. Since the census a portion has been taken to form Swain co. The chief productions in 1870 were 13,560 bushels of wheat, 9,187 of rye, 156,050 of Indian corn, 10,668 of oats, 13,235 of Irish and 7,116 of sweet potatoes, 11,697 Ibs. of tobacco, 10,634 of wool, 64,032 of butter, and 11,571 of honey. There were 1,022 horses, 2,136 milch cows, 3,422 other cattle, 5,028 sheep, and 8,152 swine. Capital, Webster. III. A a. county of Georgia, drained by the head waters of Oconee river ; area, 432 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 11,181, of whom 3,710 were colored. It is a hilly and not very fertile district, abounding in granite and quartz, and containing some iron ore. The chief produc- tions in 1870 were 35,200 bushels of wheat, 218,780 of Indian corn, 25,990 of oats, 10,656 of sweet potatoes, 56,115 Ibs. of butter, and 1,825 bales of cotton. There were 1,143 horses, 663 mules and asses, 1,904 milch cows, 3,028 other cattle, 6,379 sheep, and 8,141 swine. Capital, Jefferson. IV. A N. W. county of Florida, bordering on Georgia, and separated from Alabama on the E. by the Chattahoochee river, which unites with the Flint to form the Appalachicola on the S. E. border ; area, 1,040 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 9,528, of whom 5,598 were colored. It is intersected by the Chipola river, and has a level surface, partly covered with pine forests. The soil near the streams is very fertile. The chief productions in 1870 were 150,780 bushels of Indian corn, 25,005 of sweet potatoes, 27,972 gallons of molasses, 39,280 Ibs. of rice, and 3,391 bales of cotton. There were 440 horses, 516 mules and asses, 1,974 milch cows, 4,340 other cattle, 1,439 sheep, and 6,097 swine. Capital, Marianna. V. A N. E. county of Alabama, bordering on Tennessee, and intersected by Tennessee river; area estimated at 975 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 19,410, of whom 3,060 were colored. It is mountainous, and the soil, drained by numer- ous streams, is generally fertile. The Nash- ville and Chattanooga and Jasper branch, and the Memphis and Charleston railroads traverse