THE MAGPIE. 



The magpie^ in its native state, is a bird of no 

 common beauty. A just idea cannot be formed of its 

 appearance when seen only in captivity. These birds 

 rarely remove far from the dwelling of man, and con- 

 tinue in pairs the whole year. The nest is curiously 

 built for the defence of their young ; it is oval in shape, 

 made of sticks, generally the black-thorn, strongly 

 woven together, with only a sufficient entrance on one 

 side : the bottom is lined with fibrous roots, and plas- 

 tered with earth. 



Every kind of animal food seems to be acceptable to 

 the magpie. It will riot in flesh, game, and fish, when 

 these can be procured ; it will take up with carrion, in- 

 sects, and fruit, when accessible ; and feed on grain 

 when they are not to be got. All our birds seem to 

 know well its alarming noise. In winter, magpies will 

 assemble in great numbers towards the evening, to 

 roost in some coppice or thicket ; but as day approaches 

 they separate again. 



