334 SUPERSTITIONS RESPECTING THE MAGPIE. 



vicinity of the nest, and that they were constantly pursued 

 and persecuted by other magpies." 



This bird, as known, prepares its nest at an early period. 

 Even in Sweden, where the climate is much more severe than 

 with us, it commences operations in the winter, and, there are 

 those who believe, on a particular day. 



"I take this opportunity of informing you of an obser- 

 vation that I have made," writes Lieutenant C. J. Linroth, 

 " which, though trifling in itself, may still possess interest to 

 the curious in such matters namely, that our common 

 magpie always lays the first twig of its nest on Christmas 

 Eve ! I and my deceased father noticed the act for several 

 consecutive years ; and though I certainly have heard this 

 circumstance mentioned amongst the various traditions of 

 the peasants, it has never, to my knowledge, excited the 

 attention of the naturalist." 



In England, the magpie is almost everywhere hunted 

 down, and as a consequence it is one of the very shyest of 

 birds; but in Sweden, on the contrary, from being rarely 

 molested, it is so tame as hardly to take the trouble to get out 

 of one's way. The peasants would seem to cherish the bird ; 

 for if there be a tree, or even bush, about their houses, it is 

 generally garnished with its nest. This forbearance towards 

 the magpie may, however, rather arise from fear than a kindly 

 feeling; for amongst other dreadful revelations made about 

 two centuries ago, at some famous trials for sorcery (of which 

 hereafter), it appeared by the confessions, real or forced, of 

 those charged with having sold themselves, to the devil, that 

 whilst revelling with him in the lower regions, and when 

 called upon to curse things in heaven above, and on the earth 



