construction of its nest is well worthy of our attention. Think not, my readers, that the huge pile you see in
yonder tree is the work of an ordinary bird; for the labours of the Crow, the Rook, the Daw, or the Jay may
hide their diminished heads when brought in comparison with the skill of the Magpie. A minute description
of this fabric would fill a page of this work : briefly, I may say that the foundation is composed of crossed sticks
of various sizes; next follow shreds of bark, earth, clay, moss, or any similar material near at hand; then
comes a lining of fine roots and tendrils; and lastly, a thick and impenetrable dome, which, with the nest,
forms a spherical mass. No basket-work was ever more complete than is that part which unites the rim of
the nest to the dome; and when the materials used are those of a cut quickset hedge, as is often the case,
such a nest is worthy of being placed in a museum, large as it is; for it will serve to show that the bird has
displayed no ordinary skill. Generally there is but one entrance to the nest ; but sometimes there are two,
so that the bird can take advantage of either when disturbed in the duty of incubation. The situation of the
nest is most varied, sometimes on the top of a high silver fir in a plantation, on an elm or other tree on the
field-side, or in a low thick thorn-bush in a hedgerow, whence the name of Hedge-Magpie is given to those
that choose such situations for their nest. This name, however, should be abolished; for I am certain
that no specific differences occur in the Magpies of this country. I have been looking for the supposed
second species from my childhood, but have not yet found it; my opinion may, therefore, I hope, have some
weight. ‘The eggs are usually six or seven in number, of a pale-bluish white, spotted all over with ash-grey
and two tints of greenish brown ; they are one inch four-and-a-half lines long, by one inch broad. The young
generally follow their parents during the first autumn; and it not unfrequently happens that, in those districts
where they are not hunted down, several broods unite; and the little flock becomes still more ornamental
than when seen singly or, as is usually the case, in pairs. The food of such assemblies consists principally
of worms, grubs, and insects ; but they will readily eat carrion of any kind, and a stranded sheep or sick lamb
must carefully guard their eyes, or a worse calamity may befal them. ‘To this kind of food the eggs and
young of the Pheasant, the Domestic Fowl, or of almost any bird, are added, if opportunities for pilfering
them be afforded: they also consume fruits of every kind, and berries of various sorts. In its disposition it
is prying and most inquisitive; in actions pert and cunning ; somewhat garrulous during the months of spring,
if anything strange, such as the discovery of a sleeping Owl, a Fox, a wired Hare, or a nest-robbing
Squirrel excites its ire; it then utters a peculiar chattering noise, betokening that something wrong or
unusual has taken place. Hold council with yourselves, good keepers, and spare the Magpie for the
information he has afforded you.

When taken young, the Magpie may be readily reared and domesticated. Confined, as it frequently is,
in a willow cage, far too small for its comfort or the display of its agile actions, it exhibits a degree of
cheerfulness and apparent happiness almost to be envied. In this limited prison it lives to amuse the humble
cottager, who usually greets it with its common soubriquet of ‘« Mag,” or attempts to extend its vocabulary
by more lengthened sentences, the bird sometimes acquiring the vernacular quite equal to many of the passers-
by. In some individuals the power of mimicry is complete and very extraordinary ; the mew of the cat, the
sawyer at his work, the young chanticleer, the whining dog, are each successfully imitated.

The flight of the Magpie, though apparently laboured, is easy and graceful, but, as its rounded wings
would indicate, is not of long duration: if assailed, however, by a Hawk or a Falcon, it displays a quickness
of movement perhaps unequalled by any other bird; and I believe I am right in saying that if a covert be
gained it could not be followed ; for, leaping from branch to branch, it dives about the wood with the utmost
agility. A pinioned Magpie in a coppice will give half a dozen boys an appetite before they get hold of its
wing or tail ; and then the punishment inflicted by its sharp-pointed bill will leave a lasting remembrance of
their capture of a wounded Magpie. When hawking was in vogue, this was considered one of the birds
which afforded the greatest amount of sport: see an interesting note on this subject from the pen of
Sir John Sebright, in Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ vol. ii. p- 109.

Crown black, slightly glossed with purple; remainder of the head, neck, back, and breast black ; the
throat-feathers open in their texture, and terminating in a bristle ; scapularies, abdomen, and flanks pure
white ; across the lower part of the back a band of dark grey; upper and under tail-coverts, vent, and thighs
black ; lesser wing-coverts black ; greater coverts, spurious wing, secondaries, and tertiaries glossed with
blue and green; central portion of the inner webs of the primaries pure white, their margins and the outer
webs black, glossed with olive ; two centre tail-feathers bronzy green nearly to the end, when that colour
gradually passes into rich purple, then blue, and lastly deep green ; the lateral feathers are precisely similar
on their outer webs, but their inner webs are dull black, except at the tip, where they are green, like
the outer ones, the iridescent colouring near the tips of the feathers forming a beautiful zone ; irides dark
brown; bill, legs, and feet black.

The figure is of the natural size, on a branch of the Spruce Fir (Abies excelsa).