: MAGPTR. 567 
of their eggs and young, we feel bound to admit that the Magpie’s few small 
failings are amply counterbalanced by the good it undoubtedly performs. 
After its young are reared and the game-birds and poultry are well able to 
take care of themselves, the Magpie repairs to the pastures in search of 
noxious insects and grubs. It will devour snails and worms, and is said 
to take vermin from the sheep and cattle. In autumn it levies a trifling 
tribute from the fruit-trees, and will eat acorns and beech-mast. When 
hard pressed for food, it will not object to carrion, and has been known to 
_take small birds, whilst in sowing-time it may often be seen on the land 
picking up the grain. 
-The note of the Magpie is a harsh chatter, most frequently heard at 
nightfall, when the birds are about to seek a roosting-place; but in the 
breeding-season it is said to utter a softer and more pleasant note. 
The Magpie, according to Sebright, affords an excellent quarry for 
hawking ; and in his well-known work a most interesting description of this 
sport may be found. 
The typical form of the Magpie has the head, neck, back, and breast 
_rich black glossed with greenish reflections ; the scapulars and belly are 
pure white ; the lower part of the back and rump are greyish white, the 
upper tail-coverts and the wings black, the latter richly glossed with 
green and having an elongated patch of pure white, varying in length, 
upon the inner web of each feather. The tail, which is much graduated, 
is dull black below, but iridescent above on. both webs of the two central 
feathers, and on the outer web of all the others, and beautifully glossed 
with greenish bronze and purple, and having a subterminal band of violet- 
black. The under tail-coverts and thighs are dull black. Bill, legs, toes, 
and claws black; irides dark brown. The female and young birds resemble * 
the male. 
eaten ke telat ats ietiainiali Mab alia 
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