388 The Magpie. [Sess. 



they were a week old nine of them were lifted one day by a 

 magpie, and had I not been fortunate enough to shoot him in 

 the act, the remaining three would have shared a similar fate. 



Magpies are easily tamed, and make interesting though 

 mischievous pets. I have brought a tame one with me to- 

 night in a cage, and as his history is a rather remarkable one, 

 I shall now relate it. In the spring of 1881 Mr Kerr, the 

 postmaster at Liberton, found a young bird which had dropped 

 from a nest in the Kingston Grange wood, and was unable to 

 fly. Taking it home, he attempted to feed it, but for two 

 days it could not be induced to open its mouth. On the 

 third day it was compelled by hunger to accept the proffered 

 food, and after partaking of it seemed at once to become 

 reconciled to its somewhat anomalous position. In a short 

 time it became very tame, and much attached to the post- 

 master's son. It followed him about wherever he went, and 

 he being a joiner, it was his constant companion in the work- 

 shop. By-and-by " Jacky," as he is called, became very 

 mischievous, and stole everything he was able to lift. All 

 the small tools disappeared, but by watching his movements 

 the hiding-place was found, and the stolen articles recovered. 

 Eor some time the boys in the village had proved to be a 

 source of annoyance by playing marbles on the road in the 

 centre of the village. " Jacky," however, soon put a stop to 

 this. As quick as lightning he would dart down among the 

 boys, pick up a marble, and fly off with it to his hiding-place. 

 Enraged at the loss of their marbles, " Jacky " was subjected 

 to revengeful treatment, as stones were thrown at him when- 

 ever an opportunity offered, with the result that he has had 

 many narrow escapes, and, as can be seen, one of his legs has 

 been broken in two places. In spite of this, however, he has 

 been the means of entirely putting a stop to boys playing 

 marbles on the street. 



" Jacky's " bill of fare is a varied one. Bits of meat, 

 cheese, ham, potatoes, and rice, he seems to relish, and every- 

 thing that creeps or flies which he is able to kill is devoured, 

 with the exception of earthworms. Unless very hungry he 

 invariably hides his food, burying it in the earth, and after it 

 is carefully covered, he puts as large a stick or stone over the 

 place as he is able to carry. When hungry, he returns, and 



