MAGPIE 215 



Mr. W. H. Power, in his Birds Observed at Bainham, 

 says the Jay is " common in the woods, but seldom ven- 

 turing down near the river. They do not, however, lose 

 in the slightest degree their habitual caution, but are 

 ever on the alert, the first thing heard on entering an 

 orchard being their derisive chatter, uttered as they take 

 themselves off." 



Genus PICA, Brisson. 



MAGPIE. 



Pica pica (Linnfeus). H.N., i., p. 157 (1766). 

 Hagister (Kent), Swainsou. 



The Magpie is rather a local bird, although in some 

 districts it is plentiful, and it appears to prefer the large 

 marshes in the county. Tn years gone by it was ex- 

 tremely common along the Kentish coast, especially 

 about the labourers' cottages in the Marshes. Only a 

 year or two back in one district in Eomney Marsh some 

 twenty or thirty were killed on account of their depre- 

 dations, but in the more inland districts they are less 

 frequent and only found in pairs, breeding in the more 

 secluded old woods. 



Mr. G. Dowker, in his Birds of East Kent, says : " I 

 have a word to say for the Magpie, so persecuted by 

 sportsmen and farmers, that it is a wonder he is not 

 exterminated. True, he will rob the hen of her brood, 

 and appears insatiable in his appetite for a time ; but it 

 is only while rearing their young that they are so de- 

 structive ; at other times they are great destroyers of 

 mice and insects." 



