148 THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



The bird is much smaller than the rook, and is at once 

 distinguished by his grey head and neck. He is very fond 

 of perching on the vanes of the steeples of churches : 



" A great frequenter of the church, 

 Where, bishop-like, he finds a perch 

 And dormitory too." 



There are two members of this family which, owing to the 

 present rage for high-game preserving, are now but seldom 

 seen, as their well-known propensities for eggs of all kinds 

 have brought them to the verge of total extinction 



THE MAGPIE AND JAY. 



The MAGPIE (Pica rustica) and the JAY (Garrulus glan- 

 darins). The former's chatter and the latter's scream are 

 now almost things of the past. 



The magpie, or magot, as it is often called, was always 

 considered a bird of ill omen, this prejudice prevailing in 

 all countries in which it is found. It was the only bird 

 that would not enter the ark, but sat outside chattering 

 over the drowned corpses. To see one magpie at a time 

 is supposed to be most unlucky, and the only way to 

 avert any misfortune is to stop and take off your hat, 

 making at the same time a profound bow. Sir Humphry 

 Davy, in " Salmonia," says : " It is always unlucky for 

 anglers to see a single magpie in the spring, because it 

 indicates showery, cold weather ; but when two appear 

 the weather is mild and warm, and more favourable to 

 fishing." It is a pity that so handsome a bird, and so 

 lively withal, should be so persecuted. 



The jay is more common, probably from frequenting the 

 innermost part's of the woods and being extremely wary, 

 but it has much diminished in open places and by the 

 water-side. It was supposed to be partial to acorns, hence 

 its name Glandarius. . It is a beautiful bird, with a very 

 unpleasant voice, addicted to sucking the eggs and eating 

 the callow young of other birds, and therefore no mercy is 

 shown. 



