THE MAGPIE. 197 



approached. He was, however, one day engaged in his 

 usual plunder ; he had hanged fourteen hares, and the 

 ground was favourable to his concealment, by being co- 

 vered with brambles and brushwood ; but the noise of 

 the magpies, in the tops of the trees just over the spot, 

 guided his pursuers, and led to his apprehension. 



At a village called Thouare, about three leagues from 

 Nantes, in France, there lived, a few years ago, a magpie, 

 on excellent terms with her master, a justice of the 

 peace, and also with his maid-servant. The former, 

 who was fond of indulging his appetite, had a brood of 

 ducks, which were daily taken by the servant to the 

 fields for food and exercise, while Mag was also an es- 

 cort. It was observed by the maid that, at the hour 

 fixed for their walk, the magpie regularly placed herself 

 in readiness at the door of the place where the fowls 

 were kept; and one day, just as she had let out the 

 ducks, she was suddenly called off, when, to her great 

 surprise, she saw them all on their way to the field, 

 under the guidance of Mag, who with her beak urged 

 onwards those who were lagging behind. On the fol- 

 lowing day, the servant purposely let her go alone, 

 when she again took the command of the brood ; and 

 from that time she was left to take them out, and bring 

 them in at night. As, however, the justice kept ducks 



