214 



BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



LINNET, MOUNTAIN. See TWITE. 



MALLARD. See DUCK, WILD. 



MAGPIE. 



(Pica rustic a.) 

 Order PASSERES ; Family CORVID.E (CROWS). 



Description of Parent 

 Birds. Length about 

 eighteen inches, more 

 than half of which is 

 accounted for by the 

 bird's abnormally long 

 tail. Bill of medium 

 length, slightly curved 

 downward, and black. 

 Irides hazel. Head, neck, 

 back, wings, tail-coverts 

 and quills black, glossed 

 with green, purple, and 

 light upon them. The 

 the inner webs of some 

 of the primaries, are white. The tail is very much 

 wedge-shaped. Chin, throat, and upper breast 

 black ; lower breast, belly, and sides white ; thighs 

 and under tail-coverts black. Legs, toes, and claws 

 black. 



The female is not quite so large, nor is her 

 plumage so brilliant as in the case of the male. 



Situation and Locality. In trees and thorn 

 bushes at varying heights from the ground. In- 

 stances are on record of the bird having made its 



MAGPIE'S NEST AND EGGS. 



blue, according to 

 scapulars, and part 



the 

 of 



