MAGPIES. val 
which are placed low down, but in the centre of 
a very thick prickly bush—a stronghold rigidly 
guarded against all-comers. Not even a small 
bird dare perch on that sacred bush; and if hawk 
or weasel venture to poach for eggs or young 
birds, husband and wife dash fearlessly at the 
thief, and ring such changes on its head or body 
with their powerful beaks, that victory generally 
lies on the side of the crows. Seven is the 
greatest number of eggs I ever found in a nest, 
five and six being the average. I saw it north at 
the extreme end of Vancouver Island, but do not 
imagine that to be its limit. Its southern range 
(I only speak from personal observation) was 
Cape Flattery; whether it extends along the 
coasts of Oregon and south of California, I do 
not know. 
Very often magpies (Pica Hudsonica) build 
in the bushes, as close as safety permits them to 
venture near the belligerent Fish Crows. These 
thievish murderers are everywhere, from Vancou- 
ver Island to the Rocky Mountains. They so very 
nearly resemble our British bird, that one would 
know no difference save by a careful comparison ; 
seeing them in freedom, they appear to be iden- 
tical. I call them murderers, because I have seen 
them kill mules: and worse than that, pick the 
