BRITISH BIRDS. 63 



sometimes the latter have blue eyes, but more often they 

 are clear red, as happens in the case of most albinos. 



The nest is usually placed under cover in a building, 

 such as a church tower, but occasionall}- in trees, or among 

 the statuary on the front of public edifices; for the jackdaw 

 often frequents towns. The eggs are three or four, rarely 

 more, though Morris says seven ; they are of a pale greenish 

 blue, spotted with brown and grey, chiefly at the larger 

 end. 



The jackdaw feeds on ofllil of all kinds, as well as on 

 mice, young birds, and small reptiles and insects, also 

 worms and grubs, for the possession of which he may often 

 be seen disputing with the starlings. 



In confinement, and he is easily domesticated, too much 

 butcher's meat will cause him to have fits. His diet should 

 be varied in accordance with the natuie of what he eats in 

 the wild state ; he will then be healthy and very amusing, 

 but lie is as mischievous and as great a thief as the other 

 members of the family to which he belongs. Nothing of a 

 bright or glittering appearance should be left in his way. 

 Full length, 14 inches. 



Magpie. — This is a beautiful bird, the glistening glories 

 of whose plumage rival those of the inhabitants of the 

 inter-tropical forests, to which we shall advert when treat- 

 ing of our colonial and Indian birds. 



The head, neck, breast, and back are black, with a shade 

 of deep blue ; the belly, sides, and wing coverts white ; the 

 wings black, with bright steel blue reflections ; the inner 

 web of the primaries white to within half-an-inch of the 

 tip, which is blue, with a shading of green ; the long central 

 tail feathers and the secondaries are black, witii blue green 

 shading, the others black. The bill and the legs and feet 

 are black. 



The female is smaller than the male, and her plumage is 



