34 BIRD LIFE IN WILD WALES 



would have small chance of holding its own as a 

 British species ; as it is, however, it manages to exist 

 in very fair numbers in most parts of the British 

 Isles, though we know some localities where a 

 Magpie is seldom, if ever, seen — ^as, for example, 

 the district for many miles round Bromley, Kent, and 

 there it has been exterminated, presumably by trap 

 and gun, as we have evidence of its breeding there 

 some thirty years ago. We should indeed be more 

 than sorry to see this handsome fellow eliminated 

 from our British list of birds. He is, however, a 

 depredator, fc^r whilst bringing up a family all is 

 fish that comes to his net ; and then is sad havoc 

 wrought in the coverts, amongst eggs of all sorts, 

 though, like all the Crow tribe, the Magpie is 

 omnivorous in his diet. He is a constant bird, and 

 pairs for life. The old nest is either patched up 

 annually or a new one made at no great distance 

 from it, and until the leaves are well out no more 

 conspicuous object presents itself to the naturalist's 

 eye. High trees are usually selected, but failing 

 these, a dense blackthorn is often enough chosen. 

 We remember one in particular, two years ago 

 (during a ramble in a certain part of tiie Princi- 

 pality), built in just such a situation ; and though we 

 could almost reach it from the ground, yet so 

 impenetrable was the bush that for some little time it 

 defied all efforts. It was built in a clump of black- 

 thorns and outside the clump was perfectly invisible, 

 and was only just completed, though 'twas then, as 

 we see from our diary, the 3rd of May. In an adjoin- 

 ing bush was the previous season's nest. The nest 



