564 BRITISH BIRDS. 
example in the British Museum not reaching within two inches of the end 
of any of the quills. To this form Hodgson gave the name of P. tibetana. 
Siberian and American birds have, on an average, the longest tails; to the 
latter the name of P. hudsonica has been applied. Most examples from 
the western Palzearctic Region have the second primary shorter than the 
innermost secondaries; whilst in examples from the eastern Palearctic 
and the western Nearctic Regions it is as long or longer than they are; but 
examples having this peculiarity are occasionally found in the western 
Palearctic Region. These four latter forms may possibly rank as sub- 
species, but. cannot be considered species; and there seems to be some 
doubt if the two first mentioned are specifically distinct ; for some of the 
Spanish birds may be considered somewhat intermediate, and examples 
having a yellow bill are said sometimes to occur in the British Islands, 
The Magpie is not altogether a woodland bird, although it is the 
commonest in well-timbered districts, and especially in game-coverts 
thickly interspersed with tall trees. Parks are its favourite haunts; but 
it may often be seen beating in easy uncertain kind of flight over the 
moors, whence it retreats to the fir-plantations on the hillsides. In the 
pastures near these situations the Magpie may be often seen wandering 
about amongst the feeding cattle or even perched on the back of a sheep. 
If alarmed it usually betakes itself to the nearest cover, and always 
appears averse to flying any great distance. In autumn and winter flocks 
of Magpies are occasionally seen, generally before they retire to roost. 
Dixon has known these birds collect from wide stretches of country, 
and regularly repair at night to a small fir-plantation, where they 
evidently roosted. During the whole day not more than two birds 
were to be seen in company; but as night approached, by concealing 
himself under the trees, he saw them come to the trysting-place in 
pairs and little parties, alighting in noisy converse on the tree-tops, 
until by sunset at least a score individuals were gathered there for the 
night. Apropos of this gregarious instinct in the Magpie may be quoted 
the following rhyme :— 
‘One for sorrow, 
And two for mirth ; 
Three for a wedding, 
And four for a birth.” 
Although subject to such incessant persecution, the Magpie loves to 
frequent the neighbourhood of houses; and in many places, where it is 
left unmolested, it will come quite close to the threshold, and even rear its 
young in some tall bush open and exposed to the view of all. It is but 
rarely that the bird will allow you to approach within gunshot. Shy 
and wary, made timid by the knowledge that it receives no favour, it flits 
from tree to tree before you, sometimes alighting on the ground, but only 
