per^ 



ANECDOTE OF TWO MAGPIES. 49 



as a proof that something like sagacity, superior to 

 instinct, on particular occasions, excites animals to 

 deviate from their accustomed habits. 



" Whilst I was travelling in Scotland," said he, 

 " as I was one day amusing myself with the objects 

 within my view, on the road between Huntley and 

 Portsoy, I observed two magpies hopping round a 

 gooseberry-bush, in a small garden near a poor-look- 

 ing house, in a peculiar manner, and flying out and 

 into the bush. I stepped aside to see what they were 

 doing, and found, from the poor man and his wife, 

 that, as there are no trees all around for some miles, 

 these magpies, several succeeding years, had built 

 their nest, and brought up their young, in this bush ; 

 and, that foxes, cats, hawks, &c. might not interrupt 

 them, they had barricadoed not only their nest, but 

 had encircled the bush with briers and thorns, in a 

 formidable manner ; nay, so completely, that it would 

 have cost even a fox, cunning as he is, some days' 

 labour to get into the nest. 



" The materials in the inside of the nest were soft, 

 warm, and comfortable ; but all on the outside so 

 rough, so strong, and firmly entwined with the bush, 

 that, without a hedge-knife, hatch-bill, or something 

 of the kind, even a man could not, without much pain 

 and trouble, get at their young ; for, from the outside to 

 the inside of the nest, extended as long as my arm. 



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