466 Practical Game Preserving. 



villains may be following, ready and eager to snap up 

 any straggler, or even dash at the brood. In the same 

 manner are partridges captured by magpies, sometimes, 

 when but slack vigilance is observed toward the vermin. 

 More especially do broods suffer which are hatched out 

 in, and consequently frequent, such rough spinneys as 

 delight, no doubt, the hearts of upland partridges. Those 

 about the cornfields have more security from attack by 

 these vermin. Grouse, on the other hand, suffer less 

 from magpies than from crows, although, wherever a 

 plantation or wood adjoins the grouse moor, or this latter 

 offers means for the easy escape of magpies if harassed, 

 the birds will suffer to some extent. In the open they 

 are safe, more especially when the young grow up, prior 

 to which state, with partridges, is a peculiarly favourable 

 one for magpies. There is probably also nothing more 

 pleasing to these rascally birds than to pick the bones of 

 a tender and succulent leveret, at the capturing of which 

 the piet seems to be particularly adept. It has, further, 

 an " illigant taste >3 for a bunny of tender years and 

 similar appetising qualities ; and has, moreover, an uncom- 

 fortably sharp way of catching them, while occasionally 

 one or more magpies will combine in the taking of a full- 

 grown rabbit, and subsequently enjoy a repast in company. 

 The number of young conies not having reached a half- 

 grown state which magpies kill must be very large, for it 

 rarely happens that they finish off one before they are 

 again in search of further means whereby to satisfy their 

 cravings for mischief rather than for food. 



To the poultry keeper in rural districts the magpie is 



