274 Northern Observations of Inland Birds 



In addition to the harsh, famihar chattering call, and 

 the almost equally familiar and oft repeated ** Jock " 

 mostly uttered in the thickets, the birds have a curious, 

 gutteral manner of talking to each other when in close 

 company. Theix conversation at such times is almost 

 uncannily human, and as Hudson says it strongly resembles 

 the gutteral tones of two negroes lying somewhere in 

 the grass. 



In the days of falconry magpies were said to give 

 excellent sport, chiefly by reason of the fact that the 

 whole field could keep in close touch with the chase 

 and witness everything. For Jock had more sense than 

 to rise and ** fly away." He was too wise for that. 

 Instead he made for the nearest thorn bush, and refused 

 to leave it till he was forcibly driven out, when, flying 

 low, he would head for the next. By keeping close to 

 the ground during these desperate spurts he gave the 

 hawk no chance of a swift strike, and by dodging, hiding, 

 and walking as far as he flew or further, he afforded 

 more rollicking fun than any other bird of the country 

 side. And in the end a rabbit burrow or a hollow tree 

 generally provided Jock with the chance he sought, 

 and so the lively chase would conclude with fitting 

 merriment. 



