550 Nidification of the Magpie and Bullfinch, 



it was shut. The young brood consisted of four birds, which 

 remained with their parents till the following spring, when 

 they all disappeared. The old birds began to build in 1829, 

 in a rustic arbour in the garden ; but, their labours being so 

 often interrupted by that unwelcome guest in human shape, 

 they forsook the task, after having laid the foundation. Finding 

 day after day that the little habitation did not make any pro- 

 gress, I anxiously watched the active and bustling motions of 

 my two tiny friends, and soon discovered them busily engaged 

 in refitting or repairing their old nest in the stable. It under- 

 went considerable alteration, both internally and externally, 

 so that the size became considerably increased. In this safe 

 retreat they reared their second brood. I was very careful to 

 preserve the nest untouched, hoping that, on a future occasion, 

 I should see the third brood reared in the same nest ; but, 

 unluckily, a boy, who was playing with my own children, 

 caught a glimpse of the nest, and soon destroyed it. 



The Magpie also uses the old Materials in the Construction 

 of its Nest occasionally. Only one instance of this kind is in 

 my recollection. My father had a large orchard, of about 

 two acres, in the centre of which was a pond, which was sur- 

 rounded with the white thorn, hazel, &c, some of which had 

 grown up to good-sized trees. One, a whitethorn, was parti- 

 cularly bent in the stem, and projected its bushy head nearly 

 over the centre of the pond. A pair of magpies took posses- 

 sion of this tree, built their nest, reared their brood, and de- 

 parted, only visiting us occasionally. The next year they 

 took possession of the same tree, and began to repair their 

 old nest, in which they reared their second brood : thus did 

 they continue for six successive years. The fifth year, an old 

 cat, which had long watched their motions, at length ven- 

 tured to intrude upon their domain, but met with a very un- 

 welcome reception. Mag, it appeared, was fearful of a second 

 visit from poor puss, for she actually constructed such a bar- 

 rier, at every entrance of her mansion, as to defy admission 

 to any object larger than herself. Puss was accordingly 

 kept at bay : but whether she ever made a second attempt I do 

 not know. However, in the sixth year, the pair again took 

 possession of their airy mansion, for by this time it was 

 more than double its original size ; but they still added to its 

 bulk, so that it presented a very formidable appearance, and 

 became an object of great curiosity. But, like most pets of 

 the fancy, it met an untimely fate : a violent storm arose, 

 which bore down trees, buildings, &c, and laid this noble 

 structure, with its callow brood, level with the earth. 



/ once knew a Bullfinch build its second clumsy Nest upon 



