44 THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 



district ; they used to nest in Rainham Church-tower 

 before the windows were protected against them by 

 wire blinds. 



MAGPIE. 

 Pica rustica (Scop.). 



Our woods afford a good supply of Magpies. They 

 are not very numerous as a species, though constantly 

 met with. I am inclined to think they are kept down 

 by the foxes ; I once saw where a Magpie had been 

 buried by a fox, leaving the tip end of its tail in 

 view. When the weather is rough they roost low, 

 becoming an easy prey. The Magpie is a striking 

 bird in our woodland scenery 



JAY. 

 Garrulus glandarius (Linn.). 



As our woods are not preserved, the Jays enjoy 

 their own freedom, and keeping a good look out are 

 seldom shot ; a singular thing in their economy is 

 that we always seem to have exactly the same 

 number ; it may be that the supply of food is 

 limited, as our oak trees do not always produce 

 acorns. The young broods appear to migrate, or 

 perhaps like the Magpies are sometimes destroyed 

 by foxes. I believe lately our regular number of 

 Jays may have been interfered with by the cold 

 wet summers. 



