254 EEMINISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



to see what was the matter, when to their surprise they 

 saw poor Mag fiercely attacked by two or three wild 

 magpies which his human cry soon put to flight. He 

 fell a victim at last to his greediness, for he was found 

 smothered in a pail of barley-meal prepared for the 

 pigs. 



It is very difficult to get a shot at a magpie, and no 

 easy matter to trap them, as they are so wary. I have 

 mentioned elsewhere an ingenious way which my game- 

 keeper found very successful for their capture, by putting 

 a trap under a small puddle of water, and placing a 

 blown egg through which a thread had been passed on 

 the surface of the water, after being fastened to the 

 trap. Amongst all our birds, I think none makes a 

 more comfortable habitation than the magpie. He 

 shelters himself from the bad weather by the con- 

 struction of a substantial roof over the nest, which is 

 enclosed on all sides, excepting a small opening for his 

 admittance. This, as I have elsewhere said, is the reason 

 that the martin-cat is so partial to taking possession of a 

 magpie's nest. It is well-known that the magpie affords 

 excellent sport in hawking, and so dexterous is he in his 

 manoeuvres to escape his enemies on these occasions, 

 that not only two hawks should be taken out, but 

 several persons to assist, as it is the habit of the magpie 

 to retreat to a large bush or thick hedge to afford him 

 shelter and protection, and it is no easy matter to get 

 him out of these asylums. The magpie is in length 

 about eighteen inches, and weighs eight or nine ounces. 

 This bird is so well known that he requires no further 

 description. 



The carrion crow is also very destructive to game ; it 

 resembles the raven in the form of its body and food 



