THE MAGPIE IN NORWAY. 121 



consists of mussels, which grow to an incredibly large 

 size. The severe climate of the north often makes 

 this bird cream- white in colour. The carrion-crow 

 (C. corone) has been once seen in Norway; the speci- 

 men was shot, and is now in the Zoological Museum 

 at Christiania. 



The rook (G. frugilegus) is rarely to be met with 

 in Norway, and never north of Throndjem. It mi- 

 grates in October, and returns early in the spring, but 

 does not make its nest until the beginning of June. 



The jackdaw (C. monedula) remains during the 

 summer in Norwegian Lapland. Speaking of this 

 species, Mr. Lloyd says, " More generally it breeds in 

 towers and old buildings, but in the far north, from the 

 want of such-like localities, it nests in the wilds of the 

 forest." 



The magpie (Pica caudata) is common in all parts of 

 Norway. It is a special favourite among the peasants, 

 who would not harm it on any consideration. The 

 Lapps esteem it highly, and do their best to entice it 

 about their tents. During the long and wearisome 

 winter of Norway, the magpie is to the Norwegian 

 bonder what the redbreast is to the country people of 

 England. This bird is allowed to come into the pea- 

 sant's cottage; it is regularly fed, and if any mis- 

 chievous person were to molest it, he would bring 

 down a storm about his ears which he would not forget 

 in a hurry. In country districts here, the people put 

 hens' eggs under the magpie, and consider the chickens 

 hatched in such a way will be prolific layers. When 

 this is done, the magpie is carefully watched at hatch- 

 ing time, and the chickens are removed as soon as they 

 come out of their shells, otherwise the magpie would 



