MATHEWS ON AZURE-WINGED MAGPIE. 69 



NOTES ON THE AZURE-WINGED MAGPIE (Pica cyaneaj, &c. 



By G. F. Mathews, Esq., R.N., F.L.S. 



C Continued from page 51. J 



The soil through which it ran was of a soft sandy nature, and conse- 

 quently a deep channel had been worn in it ; in places here and there 

 where it had been dammed up for purposes of irrigation there were deep 

 dark pools overhung by alders and sallows, the latter in profuse bloom, 

 but elsewhere it ran over a smooth shingly bottom, and was not more than 

 a few inches deep ; in the summer months I suspect it is nearly dry. 

 The valley on each side the stream was divided by low banks of about a 

 foot high into small square plots, barely half an acre in extent, and which 

 contained the remains of a crop of apparently some species of sedge, which 

 I believe the Portuguese make use of when cut and dried, for thatching 

 their cottages and ricks, and also for covering and packing bottles, &c. with. 

 In some places close to the margin of the stream no attempt whatever had 

 been made to reclaim the ground, which was covered with a thick tangled 

 mass of brambles, stunted willows, dead reeds, &c., and formed an excel- 

 lent retreat for various species of warblers and other birds. 



I must now return to the Magpies. After waiting some time and not 

 hearing them, I imagined they had taken themselves off entirely, when all 

 at once I heard a great noise overhead, and looking up saw the whole flock 

 flying above me at a considerable height, but evidently with the intention 

 of descending to a large fir tree some distance off, which they presently 

 did ; their flight is much more undulating than that of our English friend. 

 I thought this would be a good opportunity of obtaining a successful shot, 

 so walked towards them as cautiously as I was able, but they were still 

 much too wide awake for me, and on one of them beginning to pipe his 

 note of alarm the whole flock took to flight in all directions, and I was 

 again disappointed. I did not, however, altogether despair, but reseating 

 myself beneath the same bush I kept as quiet as possible. The birds had 

 not gone very far, and from my silence they probably concluded all danger 

 had passed, and very soon recommenced their lively chattering and ap- 

 peared to be quite at ease. Presently I noticed one fly into a tree not 

 more than a hundred yards from me where it was speedily followed by 

 others, but as soon as several became occupants of the same tree they 

 commenced squabbling violently, and of course the weakest had to give 



