MAGPIE. 117 



whips ; for the Magpie cannot be driven from a bush by 

 a stick ; but the crack of a whip will force him to leave 

 it, even when he is so tired as hardly to be able to fly. 

 The Magpie will always endeavour to make his way to 

 some strong cover; care, therefore, must be taken to 

 counteract him, and to drive him to that part of the ground 

 where the bushes are farthest from each other. It is not 

 easy to take a Magpie in a hedge. Some of the horsemen 

 must be on each side of it ; some must ride behind, and 

 some before him ; for, unless compelled to rise, by being 

 surrounded on all sides, he will flutter along the hedge, so 

 as to shelter himself from the stoop of the Falcon. Many 

 requisites are necessary to afford this sport in perfection 

 a favourable country, good Hawks, and able assistants." 



Magpies generally continue in pairs all the year round. 

 They build in high trees, sometimes in a lofty hedge, and 

 occasionally in a low but thick bush, returning to the same 

 nest for several years in succession. The nest is well con- 

 structed for security against enemies ; it is of an oval shape, 

 and large, framed on the outside with sharp thorny sticks, 

 strongly interwoven, and forming a dome over the top. 

 The framework of sticks is plastered with earth on the in- 

 side, and afterwards covered with a lining of fibrous roots 

 and dry grass. One small aperture is left on the side just 

 large enough to admit the parent bird, who generally sits 

 with her head to the hole, ready to quit the nest on the 

 slightest alarm. 



The Magpie breeds early in spring, producing six or 

 seven eggs of a pale bluish white colour, spotted all over 

 with ash-colour and two shades of greenish brown; the 

 length is one inch four lines and a half; the breadth one 

 inch. 



When taken young the Magpie is easily tamed, chatters 

 to those who feed or notice him, imitates the sound of the 



