330 



Bird - Lore 



refrain from using his blue pencil on a bull, not very handy with their feet 

 as yet, for they often found difficulty in getting foothold on the branches. 

 This was the last week in June. According to observations I once had the 

 opportunity of making, they come out at between three and four weeks of age. 

 When about five weeks old the bird can fly a little, but is still very awkward 

 in alighting and attaining a footing. 



The families I saw varied in number from three to six, but Silloway has 

 recorded thirteen eggs in a nest. When the young Magpies first appear to the 

 outer world, their tails are very short, but grow rapidly, though they probably 

 do not attain full length until early fall. The adult Magpie is a decidedly 



cautious bird, not exactly shy, for he is 

 pretty much in evidence wherever he 

 lives, but has pronounced scruples 

 against allowing human beings to 

 approach too close, especially if they 

 have guns, and is rather suspicious of 

 a camera. Even the youngsters are very 

 restless, and keep on the move among 

 the branches when one is near, so that 

 it is difficult to secure good pictures, 

 even with a reflecting camera. The 

 subject gets out of focus before one can 

 operate the shutter, and the bird itself 

 is difficult to focus on when in a hurry, 

 the plain black-and-white coloration 

 affording no sharp marks to use for 

 focusing points. 



The young keep up a continual 

 squawking when about the trees; there is 

 no other word for it, it is just plain 

 rt'ith one another, or calling for food, I 

 cannot say; but, as they are sociable birds and will really learn to talk a 

 little, we will give them the benefit of the doubt, and say they are conversing. 

 When a person is close, the noise is louder, and the parents often join in, 

 but take good care to keep at a safe distance. It becomes decidedly 

 tiresome at times. 



The amount of fear shown varied, as usual in young birds, with their age; 

 and the older ones could hardly be approached at all closely, but kept moving 

 around restlessly in the trees, and even flying to others. 



A Magpie's nest is an exceedingly noticeable structure, and there is no 

 attempt at concealment about it, for one can hardly avoid seeing it, though 

 occasionally one is found in a thickly branched willow which is difficult to 

 see; but this is due rather to the accident of location than to any intent on 



YOUNG MAGPIE 



squawk. Whether they are talking 



