21 



THE STUDY OF NATURAL HISTOEY CONDUCIVE 



TO HEALTH. /^5^5?^X 



BY THOMAS FULLER, ESQ. I fV^lfrC ) 



( Continued from page 3._) N^Va <;E:iJ '■*<$'/ 



There are many beautiful spots among the villages surrounding this city 

 favourable to such objects, but, as before observed, the population being 

 large, furnishes enemies persecuting them at every stage. It becomes neces- 

 sary therefore, in order to reach more favourable situations, to undertake 

 walks of somewhat greater length than the powers of one near entering 

 upon the "sixth age" will permit him to accomplish with convenience. 

 Nevertheless I sometimes manage to get over a tolerable distance, and 

 am happy to say, with less fatigue than anticipated, no doubt arising from 

 the beneficial effect of breathing the pure and health-inspiring air of our 

 beautiful downs. In one of these walks to the westward a few days back 

 accompanied by a friend, we heard the chattering of Magpies; my attention 

 was immediately roused, and turning quickly to the direction from which 

 the sound came, perceived three of my gay and lively favourites. We 

 endeavoured with much caution to get near them, but the unfortunate 

 persecuted creatures held the sight of man in too much dread to allow of 

 any approach, and soon disappeared in the cover of an adjoining wood. 

 My friend expressed equal pleasure with myself at their appearance, and 

 cordially joined me in regretting the persecution and prejudice prevailing 

 against them, which, he added, so far as his observations went, had increased 

 to such an extent as to cause nearly the extirpation of the species: he also 

 agreed with me as to the usefulness of this bird to farmers, and related 

 an anecdote respecting one which his son brought last year from the Isle 

 of Wight; thinking it may amuse my readers I repeat it: — 



The young man being on a visit to a friend on the island, in one of 

 his walks' encountered a brood of young Magpies, and immediately gave 

 chase; one of those thick fogs peculiar to the vicinity of the sea, prevailing 

 at the time, the birds could not see the direction to their cover, so he 

 succeeded in running down and capturing one of them, which he brought 

 to the house he was visiting at. The bird soon grew familiar, making 

 himself quite at home, and became a general favourite notwithstanding his 

 mischievous habits. He had his liberty in and about the house; he was a 

 most incorrigible thief, pilfering everything within reach in his power to 

 carry away: reels of cotton, and all sorts of small articles he could manage 

 to get hold of, were taken off and hid among his private stores. He was 

 very fond of playing tricks upon the fowls, among others, he would 

 approach the fowl-house with pieces of bread or meat in his beak, thrusting 



VOL. VII. E 



