Winged Vermin Habits of the Magpie. 465 



remote and closely wooded, one may discover a nest 

 some nine or ten feet from the ground, and seemingly open 

 to all publicity. In every instance, however, it is carefully 

 constructed of small sticks, and lined with fibre and 

 roots, having always an entire dome of the first-mentioned 

 materials, or something like it. More often than not the 

 dome is complete, and a small round entrance the only 

 opening to the nest. 



To enumerate the places which these feathered thieves 

 frequent is impossible they are so undiscriminating in 

 their choice of locality but we may rest assured that 

 where game exists magpies will come, if not already 

 there, and speedily proceed to oust the former in their 

 customary unceremonious manner by the many means 

 they know. From the nature of their food, magpies 

 sometimes in winter find themselves very pressed, and 

 in order to discover means of sustenance visit the farm 

 or poultry yard, where they are easily taken ; but during 

 the remainder of the year both the game preserver and 

 the poultry keeper suffer from their predatory habits. The 

 pyet, pianet, madge, mag, and such other rustic appellations 

 as it has, is more destructive probably to pheasants', 

 partridges', and grouse eggs than any other feathered 

 varmint, except perhaps the jay ; while, were it not for 

 the crow, it might be credited with the larger portion of 

 hens' eggs abstracted and demolished by winged marauders. 

 Pheasants, whenever they leave their nests, may do so 

 with two or three magpies waiting to pounce on the 

 exposed eggs, or when leading their little youngsters out 

 in the great world for the first time, a pair of the pied 



