THE MAGPIE. 223 



like its congeners the Rook and Jackdaw. He is a very 

 early breeder, his large conspicuous nest being found long 

 before the leaves are on the trees. The habits of birds 

 are curious and puzzling in the extreme. How can we, 

 for instance, account for the singular trustfulness of 

 some birds at one season, while at another they are shy 

 and the acme of wariness ? The Magpie shuns with 

 care man's habitation at all times save in the nesting 

 season. That time arrived, however, and we see them 

 patching up their nest in the old thorn tree, or nest-build- 

 ing in the fir's gloomy branches, a stone's throw from their 

 threshold, without showing any reserve or fear. We find 

 the Magpie's nest in the lofty oak, the swamp-loving alder, 

 or the graceful birch, and even in the lowly hawthorn and 

 holly, or mayhap firmly wedged in a hedgerow. The 

 site chosen, which is usually a crotch in the topmost 

 branches, the birds commence operations. First comes 

 a foundation of sticks cemented with earth, which the 

 birds line with a thick coating of mud or clay ; then 

 more sticks are used, until the nest proper is covered 

 with a network of sticks in the shape of a dome, but not 

 sufficiently dense to shield the eggs or young from 

 view. The structure is then often left for a day or so, 

 when the birds line the clay-formed cavity with a thick 

 and elastic bed of fine fibrous roots: no other lining 

 material is used. 



There is a pleasing legend in connection with the 

 nest-building of the Magpie. The bird, so runs the tale, 

 having engaged to enlighten her congeners in the 

 important art of nest-building, was so indignant at the 

 continual interruptions of her audience, who endeavoured 

 to appear as wise as herself, that she left them, when the 

 nest was but half completed, to finish the task them- 

 selves, having failed to instruct them in the mysteries of 



