THE MAGPIE. 43 



Breeding. — Its nest, placed in a hollow tree, generally contains five or 

 six eggs, ^vith transverse brown streaks scattered on a dark olive grey 

 ground. The young are reared on meat. 



Mode of Taking. — It may be taken in autumn by a noose, hanging 

 service berries to it ; success is more sure if some nuts be put near. It 

 may also be taken in the water-trap. 



Attractive Qualities. — Its actions are as amusing as those of a 

 shrike ; it imitates the voice of many animals, and chatters as much as 

 the jay. To judge from the form of its tongue, it seems possible to teach 

 it to speak, if attempted when young. 



THE MAGPIE. 



Corvus Pica, LiNNiEUS ; La Pie, Buffon ; Die Elster, Bechstein. 



As the magpie generally frequents places near tlie abode of 

 man, it is well known. It is eighteen inches in length, of 

 which the tail alone measures ten. It may be called a hand- 

 some bird, although its plumage is only black and white, for 

 these colours are perfect in their kind, and the tail, near the 

 end, shines with a purple tint, gradually shading into steel 

 blue. 



Habitation. — The magpie builds its nest on trees which arc near towns 

 and villages; its eggs are pale green, speckled with grey and brown. In 

 autumn the young ones assemble together in small parties. 



Food, — When wild, the magpie lives on worms, insects, fruits, or roots, 

 and sometimes eats eggs and young birds in their nest. 



In the house, it likes bread, meat, and anything that comes from table ; 

 in short, when once tamed it does not fail to enter by the window at meal 

 times to take its share. If it obtain too much, it hides what it does not eat 

 for another time. This propensity is seen in young ones as soon as they 

 can feed alone. 



Peculiar Qualities. — Although in its wild state the magpie is so sus- 

 picious that it is difficult to catch it, it is, however, more easily tamed 

 than any other bird ; it will let itself be touched and taken in the hand, 

 which even the most docile of other birds ^y^\\ seldom suffer. When 



