WELL-KNOWN FEATHERED OUTLAWS 35 



under notice was rather a late one, as usually 

 Magpies' eggs may be found by the middle of April, 

 and these range from five to nine in number (we have 

 seen the latter once), but six is the usual " set." Like 

 the eggs of all this family, they vary to a marked 

 degree, though seldom in the same clutch. We have 

 frequently remarked that the entrance to the nest is 

 placed on the most inaccessible side of the tree. The 

 bird is indifferent to the kind of tree in which to 

 build. We have seen nests in elms, oaks, ashes, firs 

 of all kinds, and larches ; often, too, when the latter 

 are but mere poles. 



We have a vivid recollection of one built in a spare 

 larch, which, growing on sloping ground, was so thin 

 that when the summit and the nest were reached the 

 tree bent over at a very unpleasant angle, leaving us 

 hanging like a fly to its underside. We succeeded, 

 fortunately, in bringing down safely five out of the 

 six eggs. Where the same nest is used annually, it 

 often assumes enormous dimensions, and would in 

 many cases fill a small cart. In winter and early 

 spring we have often seen many of these birds 

 together. Indeed, all the Crow tribe seem to be 

 socially inclined during certain parts of the year ; 

 though none so much so as the familar Rook. 



The Jay, quite one of our handsomest birds, happily 

 still lingers in many woodland strongholds, even 

 holding its own where game preserving is carried on 

 to a large extent, and this doubtless arises from the 

 fact that in the breeding season the Jay is very quiet, 

 and his harsh " rark, rark " is hushed. This species is 

 generally a very close sitter, and we have often had 



