316 CORVID.E. 



restless and noisy bird, and even when hiding from danger 

 can scarcely leave off its characteristic chatter. Always 

 vigilant, at times it becomes extremely vociferous, especially 

 at the sight of a dog, a fox or a cat ; and, flitting from tree 

 to tree, keeping of course at a safe distance, will follow 

 an intruder, quadruped or biped, to the limits of its haunts *. 

 Nearly all its food is sought on the ground, but morsels that 

 cannot be swallowed at once are carried away to be conven- 

 iently and more safely managed, or hoarded against future 

 need. Consequently the bird is nearly always on the move, 

 flying up from its prey to its perch and thence back again. 

 In pastures it continues longer on the ground, by turns walk- 

 ing, running or hopping, halting to pick over the cattle- 

 droppings in search of grubs which furnish it with some of 

 its chief supplies. When employed on the grass its long 

 tail is generally elevated, though often moved briskly up and 

 down, and its head is carried erect. By preference the Pie 

 seems to live in pairs all the year round, and the adults 

 when permitted are sedentary, seldom going far from their 

 home ; but the young keep their parents' company for several 

 weeks after leaving the nest. Sometimes larger assemblies 

 are seen, and the Author once counted twenty-three together 

 in Kensington Gardens, but these are now become rare in 

 England though occasionally to be observed in districts 

 where the species happens to be comparatively numerous.! 



partridge-hawking. The magpie will always endeavour to make his way to some 

 strong cover ; care, therefore, must be taken to counteract him, and to drive him 

 to that part of the ground where the bushes are farthest from each other. It is 

 not easy to take a magpie in a hedge. Some of the horsemen must be on each 

 side of it ; some must ride behind, and some before him ; for, unless compelled 

 to rise, by being surrounded on all sides, he will flutter along the hedge, so as to 

 shelter himself from the stoop of the falcon. Many requisites are necessary to afford 

 this sport in perfection — a favourable country, good hawks, and able assistants." 



* Some gamekeepers know how to ijrofit by this telltale peculiarity. Waterton 

 writes of his being at the capture of a notorious poacher effected solely by its 

 means. 



f Among recent observations of the kind in England may be noticed that of 

 Mr. C. M. Prior (Zool. s.s. p. 4879) who saw thirty-four in a stubble-field in 

 November 1875; while, writing in 1876, Mr. W. A. Durnford says {op. cit. 

 p. 4907) that about Furness he has frequently counted as many as thirty in a 

 flock in December or January. 



