ON BIRDS. 33 



turned quickly round to see who had taken this 

 liberty with him. This was the opportunity 

 wanted, for the first crow seized the bone and 

 flew away with it, followed by his companion, 

 and they no doubt enjoyed it together in some 

 secure place. You see this is another proof of 

 what I have said of combined intelligence and 

 communication in animals. The above curious 

 anecdote is related by the late Governor of Ceylon 

 in his history of that island. 



There is another cunning bird, which Shak- 

 speare calls the maggot-pie, but we the magpie. 

 In a tame state they are easily taught to talk, 

 which they will sometimes do quite as distinctly 

 as a parrot ; in a wild state they now and then 

 make a chattering noise, but do not often collect 

 together as rooks do, although some years ago I 

 counted more than twenty in one flock on the 

 Brighton Downs. They make curious nests, 

 using a large quantity of thorny sticks and 

 brambles, and sometimes place them in odd 

 situations, as I am about to tell you. You have 

 heard of the celebrated Dr. Johnson, who, al- 

 most without assistance, and in the midst of 

 poverty,, completed that wonderful Dictionary, 

 a proof of his great learning and extensive read- 



