464 Practical Game Preserving. 



always keeping one eye open for magpies when devoting 

 the other elsewhere. 



The magpie is not gregariously inclined, but is of a 

 semi-solitary nature, sometimes finding most pleasure in 

 the company of two or three others of its kind, at other 

 times passing its life singly during the day, returning only 

 to the company of its mate at evening, and often sepa- 

 rating from her again at dawn. As to the various omens 

 to be drawn from the presence of magpies in pairs, &c., 

 we shall not stop to inquire, merely remarking that the 

 more magpies the more mischief. In spring they are 

 less predacious than later, seeking for the most part 

 what may be termed their legitimate food, consisting partly 

 of insects of all kinds, seeds, berries, corn, beetles, 

 snails, grubs, worms, and other such delicate provender. 

 Their staple^food, however, is of a far different kind, the 

 nature of which the game preserver knows only too well. 



The nest of the magpie, although of rugged exterior, 

 is by no means roughly constructed, a new one being 

 invariably made each year, close to the last one if it be 

 the same birds', but rarely in the same tree, and never 

 in the same situation. The site chosen is where several 

 branches form a fork with the trunk, and although the 

 height from the ground is variable, the birds always 

 choose a tree which, at about four-fifths of its length, 

 offers a suitable place ; hence often nests will be found 

 far up amongst the branches of tall fir trees, where foliage 

 is dense and spreading, mostly in situations somewhat 

 conspicuous, or in comparative proximity to buildings ; 

 while, under opposite circumstances, where the covert is 



