THE MAGPIE 
PICA CAUDATA 
Locat names in surrounding counties : 
Status IN British Avirauna: A common and widely 
distributed resident in all woodland localities, but decreas- 
ing in many places owing to persecution. 
RapiaL DisTrRiBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: Although the Magpie has greatly decreased in 
numbers, it is still sparingly distributed over the more 
rural portions of the Metropolitan area as a breeding 
species, and occasionally wanders to the central districts. 
I have records of it from St. James’s Park (where it 
breeds regularly), the Green Park (where it is nesting this 
spring, 1909), Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Battersea 
Park, Peckham Rye, Clapham Common, Dulwich, ‘Toot- 
ing, Willesden, Hampstead, Highgate, and Greenwich. 
If we take the above exceptions and that of the Wanstead 
district, the Magpie does not appear to nest anywhere else 
within the eight-mile radius. Beyond that limit the bird 
breeds, or very recently did so, in the districts of Wembley, 
Osterley, Hendon, Brockley Hill, Pinner, Ruislip, Southall, 
Bushey, Kingston, Epsom, Banstead, Croydon, Down, the 
Kentish Crays, Dartford, Epping, Waltham, and Barnet. 
During the non-breeding season odd Magpies frequently 
wander into the more central areas. In the winter of 
1903-4 I saw three Magpies in Kilburn, and I have on 
several occasions in spring met with pairs of them at 
Neasden. I have also seen the Magpie in what was 
formerly the show-grounds at Park ,Royal, as well as 
at ‘Twyford, Chiswick, and Ealing. 
There is no brighter or more effective bird-ornament 
to the woodlands and fields than the Magpie, and its 
presence should be encouraged in every suitable part of 
suburban London. With proper care the bird could 
213 
