THE SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA 163 



initial war-cry of the bird. Full many a time both 

 warning trump and beating wings have hastened my 

 laggard footsteps along the bush tracks to school. 



There is, I gather, a superstition still current in 

 various parts of rural Britain to the effect that it is 

 unlucky to see Magpies under certain conditions, 

 these varying importantly with various localities. 

 Thus, in some counties two are said to bring sorrow, 

 in others joy; while in some places, we are 

 instructed, one Magpie is a signal of misfortune, 

 which can, however, be obviated by pulling off your 

 hat and making a polite bow to the judicial bird. In 

 Lancashire they say: 



"One for anger, 



Two for mirth, 

 Three for a wedding, 



Four for a birth; 

 Five for rich, 



Six for poor; 

 Seven for a witch, 



I can tell you no more!" 



If only for the sake of Imperial propriety, it 

 should be emphasised that the British Magpie and 

 its Australian namesake, birds with title and color 

 in common, are different, if not distinct, in disposi- 

 tion. The general affinity of black-and-white birds 

 has been shown to hold good in an international 

 sense, but the outlook of the Australian bird is 

 freer, more spacious its disposition more resolute. 

 (The advanced democracy of the land is not con- 

 fined to the genus Homo) . To pull off one's hat to a 

 sentinel "Anzac-Bird" would certainly be construed 

 into a breach of the peace; and, moreover, closer 

 approach to the nest would render handling of the 



