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and temperament are not ver\^ dissimilar to those of 

 the English Magpie (^Pica rthtica). He is of long 

 slender and elegant build, about 12 inches long, from 

 the curve of his short strong beak to the tip of his 

 long narrow tail. His plumage gives him a very 

 handsome appearance, and is very lustrous, its blacks 

 and whites very pure and rich, and the feathers very 

 finely formed ; his eye with its large black pupil en- 

 circled in golden-amber gives to him an expression of 

 vicacity and intelligence. 



The smaller variety (C. levcriand) is approximately 

 two inches smaller than C. iiiajor, and the black areas 

 of the head and neck do not terminate in points, as 

 they do in the larger bird {vide illustration). It was 

 I think in 1899 or 1900 that I saw the smaller species 

 at one of our Northern Shows, where it was awarded 

 first and special for the best bird in the Show. I made 

 several efforts to purchase it, but without success. 



On the Show bench he has been very successful. 

 He has twice won premier honours at the Crystal 

 Palace among the keenest competition, and is I believe 

 the only one ever exhibited there. This year at the 

 Palace he was only fourth, why, I failed to understand. 

 In the Provinces he has been equally successful, 

 having been placed first at all the leading shows, 

 including Manchester, Preston, St, Helen's, and many 

 others. To-day he is in the pink of condition, and 

 looking as juvenile as when I first became his proud 

 possessor, four years ago. 



All Tanagers are more or less of a timid nature, 

 and my Magpie was at one time no exception to the 

 rule. When he came into my possession he was wild, 

 restless, and terrified at the approach of strangers, but 



