FOR CAGES AND AVIARIES. 135 



Linnet, but are smaller, and like the latter bird, it will 

 breed in confinement, either with a partner of its own 

 kind or with another Finch, including the Canary. 



As it has no very distinguishing characteristics to recom- 

 mend it to the notice of amateurs, this species is not 

 very frequently kept in a cage. 



The Yellow-billed Linnet. See Twite. 



THE LITTLE CURLEW. See Whimbrel {under 

 Curlews). 



THE LONG-TAILED TIT. See Introduction, page 8. 



THE MAGPIE. 



This is the beau of our woods, and a beauty he is, 

 with his plumage of black and white (but such white and 

 such black!) and his long tapering tail, which he is so 

 fond of flirting up and down, and fanning out to display 

 its indubitable charms. 



For all his good looks, he is a bandit and freebooter 

 who Hves by his wits, preying for the most part on other 

 birds, especially those that frequent the ground, so that 

 one can scarcely wonder at his gradual extermination : 

 and yet it seems a pity, for he certainly enlivens the 

 landscape and contributes his quota to the concert of the 

 woods. 



Solitary in summer, that is going about in single pairs, 

 the Magpies gather themselves into little companies at 

 other times, and are then fairly sociable ; but whether they 

 band themselves together for mutual defence or for some 

 other purpose is hard to determine. 



The nest, built of sticks, and domed with thorns, is 

 often placed among the terminal branches of a tall slim 



