MAGPIE. 231 



lower orders have an insurmountable prejudice against it, 

 on the score of its supposed knowledge of their future destiny. 

 They tell you that when four of these ominous birds are seen 

 together, it is a sure sign that ere long there will be a funeral 

 in the village ; and that nine are quite a horrible sight. I 

 have often heard countrymen say that they had rather see 

 any bird than a Magpie, but, upon my asking them the cause 

 of their antipathy to the bird, all the answer I could get was 

 that they knew it to be unlucky, and that it always contrived 

 to know what was going to take place." 



A rhyme in vogue in country districts runs : — 



" One for sorrow, two for mirth. 

 Three a wedding, four a birth. 

 Five heaven, six hell, 

 Seven the deil's own sel'." 



The indications vary in different districts : ' Four for death, 

 five for rain,' being substituted in some places, though it 

 appears to be a general custom to endeavour to avert the 

 disaster thus liable to be brought by making as many crosses 

 on the ground as there are birds seen. If a single bird crosses 

 the path of anyone setting out on a journey it is a sure sign 

 of ill-luck for the day, and persons have been known to turn 

 back from a contemplated journey for this reason ; but to 

 counteract the evil influence it is the practice in North Riding 

 country districts to make a cross in the air, or to take off the 

 hat and make a polite bow ; and in the West Riding the 

 custom is to cross the thumbs, in addition to crossing oneself, 

 repeating the lines : — 



" I cross the Magpie, 

 The Magpie crosses me. 

 Bad luck to the Magpie, 

 And good luck to me." 



The vernacular names the bird is known by shew the 

 " familiarity which breeds contempt " in the mind of the 

 juvenile population. Mag, Maggie, and Nanpie are general ; 

 Miggy in the north country (Swainson) ; Long-tailed Nan 

 and Long-tailed Mag in Cleveland ; Swainson gives Pie, 

 Pianate, Pyenate as West Riding terms ; they are used in 



