74 



Magpies the episode was still more singular, it is 

 difRcult to assign their proceedings to any natural 

 instinct with which we are acquainted, thej^ appeared 

 to be allured simply by the fascination of the sport, 

 they were obviously fully alive to the risk, but de- 

 liberately courted danger, sometimes great danger, for 

 the pleasure that it gave them. 



Putting ourselves in their place we can easily 

 realise a sense of gratification at the effort of the 

 Hawk and his discomfiture, we can fancy a mischievous 

 urchin under the circumstances taunting his pursuer 

 with such a remark as " Sold again." But can we 

 credit a bird with so much intelligence ? The idea of 

 danger suddenly exchanged for security, of the attack 

 of a powerful and dreaded enemy ending in igno- 

 minious failure, these are ideas with which we are 

 familiar and can sj'mpathise, but they are very dis- 

 tinctly intellectual operations, and can we credit a 

 bird's brain with so much capacity? It is rather a 

 large admission, it goes far beyond the faculties with 

 which birds, and animals generally, are usually 

 credited. But unless we assume their possession of 

 such ideas how are we to explain their actions? Is 

 there not evidence in the first place of purpose to 

 provoke a certain action in an antagonist, a recognition 

 of the risk involved, some sort of valuation of risk on 

 the one hand and gratification on the other, counting 

 the cost and electing to incur it for the pleasure it will 

 afford ? Then the anticipation and quick recognition 

 of the calculated result, the momentary excitement, 

 not unmixed with fear, and finally the satisfaction of 

 escape and security and triumph over a discomfitted 

 enemv. These are many distinct ideas and not very 



