CHAPTER XLIV. WINGED VERMIN. 



THE MAGPIE THE JAY. 



IT would be difficult to name a more indiscriminately 

 mischievous and impudently daring bird than the 

 magpie. Owing to inability to observe its habits, one may 

 have doubts as to the extremely marauding nature of the 

 crow, or may feel morally certain as to the benefits con- 

 ferred by the rook, but the magpie does not allow one to 

 remain uncertain, and, taken altogether, there is probably 

 no bird the extent of whose depredations is so wide- 

 spread. Wary to a degree, it seems more difficult to 

 catch or destroy than many other noxious birds, while it 

 appears to offer far more opportunities by which its 

 capture may be effected. Magpies seem to be always 

 keeping a watch on the movements of the game preserver, 

 rather than he on theirs, and often, when the keeper is 

 busily employed in preparing to reduce one class of 

 vermin, a brace of magpies may be scrutinising his 

 movements, and, immediately he proceeds to a further 

 place, approach and carefully inspect the scene of his 

 recent operations. Hence, therefore, the necessity of 



