52 The Food of Some British Wild Birds. 



Newstead (92) examined only eight specimens : the stomach 

 contents he summarises as follows: "7 contained insects of the 

 injurious group; 4, beneficial group; 4, indifferent group; 1, wheat 

 and oats; 1, acorns; 1, a holly berry; 1, a field vole; 2, pellets 

 of sheep's wool." Florence (47) examined a single specimen only. 



Post-mortem Records. 



Field Observations. 



I have quite a number of records of this species destroying 

 young birds blackbirds, thrushes and wood-pigeons. The number 

 of eggs of these birds that a pair of magpies will destroy in a season 

 must be considerable. On more than one occasion I have disturbed 

 them when feeding upon the field vole, but only once upon young 

 game. The damage they do to young game and the eggs of game 

 birds, is, I think, exaggerated. 



