MAGPIES. 265 



MAGPIES. 



THE magpies, when they have young, destroy the broods of 

 missel thrushes, though the dams 

 are fierce birds, and fight boldly in 

 defence of their nests.* It is proba- 

 bly to avoid such insults, that this 

 species of thrush, though wild at 

 other times, delights to build near 

 houses, and in frequented walks and 

 gardens. 



POULTRY. 



MANY creatures are endowed with a ready discernment to see 

 what will turn to their own advantage and emolument, and often 

 discover more sagacity than could be expected. Thus my neigh- 

 bour's poultry watch for waggons loaded with wheat, and run- 

 ning after them pick up a number of grains which are shaken 

 from the sheaves by the agitation of the carriages. Thus, when 

 my brother used to take down his gun to shoot sparrows, his 

 cats would run out before him, to be ready to catch up the birds 

 as they fell. 



The earnest and early propensity of the gallinae to roost on 

 high is very observable ; and discovers a strong dread impressed 

 on their spirits respecting vermin that may annoy them on the 

 ground during the hours of darkness. Hence poultry, if left to 

 themselves and not housed, will perch the winter through on 

 yew-trees and fir-trees ; and turkeys and guinea fowls, heavy as 



* Of the truth of this I have been an eye-witness, having seen the common thrush feeding on 

 the shell snail. 



In the very early part of this spring (1/9/) a bird of this species used to sit every morning on 

 the top of some high elms close by my windows, and delight me with its charming song, attracted 

 thither, probably, by some ripe ivy berries that grew near the place. 



I have remarked something like the latter fact, for I remember, many years ago, seeing a pair 

 of these birds fly up repeatedly and attack some larger bird, which I suppose disturbed their nest 

 in my orchard, uttering at the same time violent shrieks. Since writing the above, I have seen 

 more than once a pair of these birds attack some magpies that had disturbed their nest, with 

 great violence and loud shrieks. MARKWiCK.t 



f It is indeed quite a common occurrence, but I have reason to believe that the missel thrushes 

 not unfrequeiitly betray the site of their nest, in the first instance, by virulently attacking every 

 large bird that comes near the place. ED. 



