50 MAGPIE. 
the gunner, and so, though a marked bird, for the most part 
contrives to save itself; but many a one garnishes the gable- 
end of the gamekeeper’s house. 
It is a crafty, noisy, artful bird, and its chatter set up at 
the sight of almost any creature, proclaims and calls forth at 
once a mutual hostility. Magpies continue in pairs throughout 
the year, but several are often seen together, probably the 
family party in general, but sometimes as many as a score. 
If taken young they are very easily tamed, and learn to 
imitate many words, and to perform various tricks. Thieving 
is as natural to them as to the rest of their tribe, and any 
thing shining, in particular, they cannot resist the instinct to 
purloin. 
The flight is made with quick vibrations, as if with some 
effort: on the ground this bird advances either by hopping 
or walking. 
The Magpie’s appetite is omnivorous; young lambs, and 
even weakly sheep, leverets, young rabbits, game, fish, carrion, 
insects, fruits, and grain, all meet its requirements. 
Its note is a harsh chatter. 
Nidification begins early in the spring. 
The nest, which is resorted to from year to year, is placed 
in the top of a tall tree or hedge, or sometimes in a lower 
one, if otherwise suitably protectant. It is rather of an oblong 
shape, built of strong sticks and thorns, cemented together 
with mud, and lined with roots and grass; an aperture to 
admit the bird is left on one side, and from this loop-hole 
any approaching danger is descried, in order to a timely 
retreat; the top is covered over. I am informed by W. F. 
W. Bird, Esq. that the Magpie builds in Kensington Gardens. 
The eggs are six or seven, rarely eight in number, pale 
bluish white, spotted all over with grey and greenish brown, 
more or less dark. 
Male; weight, between eight and nine ounces; length, one 
foot and a half; bill, black; iris, dark brown; head, crown, 
neck, and nape, jet black; chin and throat, black, the shafts 
of some of the feathers being greyish white; breast above, 
black, below, pure white; back, black. ‘The wings short, and 
rather rounded: the white feathers from the shoulder form a 
distinct white patch along them. The first feather is only 
two inches and a half long, the fifth the longest, the fourth 
and sixth nearly as long; greater wing coverts, fine blue; 
lesser wing coverts, black; primaries, black, with an elongated 
