THE MAGPIE. 265 



logical baboon." Its mischief is displayed in many ways; 

 in the wanton destruction of articles and in their crafty 

 secretion, as well as in the thievish appropriation of edible 

 dainties. Mr. Wood tells of a Wiltshire magpie which " found 

 a malicious enjoyment in pecking the unprotected ankles of 

 little boys not yet arrived at manly habiliments, and was 

 such a terror to the female servants that they were forced 

 to pass his lurking-place armed with a broom. One of the 

 servants having neglected this precaution, was actually found 

 sitting down on the stones to protect her ankles, the magpie 

 triumphantly pacing round her, until aid was brought, and 

 the bird driven away." Mrs. Bowdich quotes the following 

 from Mr. Ranson : " A magpie, kept by a branch of our 

 family, was noted for his powers of imitation. He could 

 whistle tunes, imitate hens and ducks, and speak very plainly. 

 Seated upon a toll-bar gate, he would shout 'Gate, ahoy!' 

 so distinctly, as to draw out the keeper, who was generally 

 saluted by a loud laugh when he answered the call. When 

 the keeper's wife was making pastry, he would practise the 

 same manoeuvre, and if the trick were not detected, and the 

 woman rushed out to open the gate, the magpie darted into 

 the house, and speedily made his exit with his bill full of 

 paste ; and he, in great glee, would chatter about it for some 

 time afterwards. He would perch upon the backs of chairs, 

 say he was hungry, or inform the juniors of the family it 

 was time to go to school. He was allowed to run about, 

 but was never out of mischief, and had a constant propensity 

 to pilfer and hide small articles." Of the serious conse- 

 quences sometimes attending this habit of secreting things, the 

 following story from Lady Morgan's "Italy" is a painful 

 illustration. "A noble lady of Florence, resided in a house 

 which stands still opposite the lofty Doric column which was 

 raised to commemorate the defeat of Pietro Strozzi, and the 

 taking of Sienna, by the tyrannic conqueror of both. Cosmo, 

 the First, lost a valuable pearl necklace, and one of her 



