126 STOR/ES ABOUT BIRDS. 



but every now and then giving a leap in a sideway direction. His tail he 

 carries erect, as if unwilling that its beauty should be soiled by touching 

 the ground. 



He is looking out for preyj and very soon he spies a worm half out 

 ol its hole. It is an unlucky moment for the worm, since, before it has time 

 to draw back, the magpie has pulled it out, torn it in pieces, and devoured it. 

 Next comes a snail, that is cleverly taken out of its shell, as a choice morsel. 

 And, by-and-by, a still more agreeable object appears in the distance. 



A hen is leading her brood of plump young chickens out into the field. 

 The magpie spies them out with delight, and advances by a series of leaps. 

 It is easy to guess what are his intentions, but the watchful mother is on her 

 guard. She knows the visit of the magpie bodes no good, and, when he 

 comes near, eyeing one of the chickens in a peculiar manner, she flies at him 

 like a fury, her feathers rufiled, and her kind, motherly eye like a flame of 

 fire, and scolding with all her might. 



The sudden attack is too much for the magpie. He retreats before it, and 

 flies up the nearest tree. His flight is heavy, on account of his tail, and 

 his wings are rather short. But he is soon out of the way of the hen, 

 who raises the shrill cry of danger, and, smoothing her feathers, begins to 

 cluck and call her brood together. 



Many poor little partridges fall victims to the magpie. Day after day he 

 follows them about, until nearly all of them are gone. And so impudent is 

 he that he will keep on the watch close to the farmer's house, and within sight 

 of the family, for the chance of a hen or a duck going away for a moment, or 

 a little chick wandering to an unsafe distance. Then he is sure to pounce 

 upon it. 



One day a farmer saw a magpie carrying off" a chicken in his very sight. 

 He fired his gun at her, but, though one leg was shot off", she still flew away and 

 escaped. For a short time nothing more was seen of the magpie. But she 

 appeared again on the scene in the course of a week or two, and began the 

 same game of thieving. One day the farmer saw her going after a young 

 duckling. It fled to the pond to escape her, and swam away on the water. 

 The magpie seemed bent on its destruction, and rashly ventured a little way 

 into the water. Her wings became so wet that she could not all at once rise 

 in the air. The farmer was close behind, with a stick in his hand, and the 

 magpie fell a victim to her habits of thieving, being killed on the spot. 



