PERCHING BIRDS. 133 



A. favourite magpie had been accustomed to 

 receive dainty bits from the mouth of its mistress. 

 One day it perched as usual upon her shoulder, 

 and inserted its beak between her lips, not, as it 

 proved, to receive, but (as one good turn deserves 

 another) the grateful bird dropped an immense 

 green fat caterpillar into the lady's mouth. 



The sagacity often exhibited by them, when 

 tamed, is very surprising. A favourite magpie 

 was in the habit of occasionally hiding any food 

 he did not immediately want in some long grass, 

 at the bottom of a row of iron hurdles. This 

 hoard was discovered, and often robbed, by a 

 favourite terrier. One morning mag was observed 

 in great excitement, hopping and chattering in- 

 cessantly, rapidly repeating every word in his 

 vocabulary at the dog, who was busily engaged in 

 rifling the store-house. In his search, however, 

 he passed over a tuft of grass, in which a piece of 

 beef was concealed ; mag was at the spot in an 

 instant, drew forth the treasure, and securely fixed 

 it on the highest bar of the hurdles, far above the 

 dog's reach. He then, at a little distance, began 

 pluming his feathers, chattering to himself, with a 

 very self-satisfied air, and occasionally hopping 

 back to take another look at his recovered meal ; 

 evidently priding himself on his skill. 



The nest oi the magpie deserves notice. It is 



