AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 231 



hours' journey on an outside car. This bird is also 

 exceedingly common in almost all parts of France, 

 and, indeed, is the only species that would appear 

 common to a traveller by railroad through that 

 country who did not keep a sharp and constant look- 

 out from the carriage windows. In Central Spain, 

 in some parts of which the present species is very 

 common, the Spotted Cuckoo (Coccystes glandarius) 

 uses the Magpie's nest in the same way as our Cuckoo 

 does those of the Hedge-Sparrow, Wagtail, and other 

 birds in this country, and constant noisy disputes are 

 for ever carried on between the Magpies and the 

 above-named intruders. In many parts of Spain the 

 place of the Common Magpie is occupied by a very 

 beautiful allied species, the Blue-winged Magpie 

 (Cyanopica cooki], peculiar to the Iberian Peninsula, 

 and although extremely abundant, very remarkably 

 local therein, we have never met with these two con- 

 sorting together, or, indeed, within a short distance 

 of each other. The Magpie, though a wary and 

 cautious bird, is exceedingly inquisitive, and may be 

 called into gunshot-range from a distance by a very 

 feeble imitation of the squeal of a wounded rabbit, 

 or the chatter of a combatant stoat, weasel, or rat, 

 and it will also follow a sandy-coloured dog, a fox, or 

 a cat to a great distance. Although the nest of the 

 Magpie is usually placed at or near the top of a high 

 tree, we are acquainted with many exceptions to this 

 rule ; and in Spain have frequently met with nests 

 which could be examined without any climbing, and, 

 still more, whose contents were attainable from horse- 

 back. In England this species is generally to be 

 seen in pairs or small parties following a line of 

 fence, and making short excursions of discovery about 



