MAGPIES. 221 



next day two men entered, and one came out ; Mag was not to be cheated ; he waited 

 until the second left also. Then three went in, and two came out, with the same 

 result ; finally four then entered, and three came away ; and the bird went back, and 

 was shot, which proved how far his powers of counting extended. 



A Magpie never seems to be happy unless he possesses a hiding-place wherein 

 to deposit his ill-gotten goods, and he always displays great uneasiness if any one 

 approaches his treasure-cave. 



Many a trinket has been snatched from a lady's jewel-case by a tame Magpie T 

 and securely hidden away in his safe-deposit vault. Nests have been found con- 

 taining thimbles, scissors, gold rings, silver spoons, bracelets, and many other 

 articles of value, evidently stolen to use as decorative bric-d-brac, and perhaps, 

 also, that the young Magpies may early be taught by object-teaching to become 

 adept pilferers. 



In Ireland, Magpies are called Protestant birds ; because they came there in the 

 reign of Queen Elizabeth, and because they are chiefly found in the chicken-rearing,. 

 English-peopled part of the island. 



As a bird of omeii the Magpie, or a number of them, suggested the old couplet, 



" One for sorrow, two for mirth, 

 Three for a wedding, and four for a birth." 



The bird cannot be surpassed as a clown, and seems always to be bubbling over 

 with fun. If his depredations can be guarded against, he is altogether enjoyable : 

 he seems to take pleasure in entertaining children, and apparently really thinks out 

 new and striking funny parts, that delight by their quaintness and originality. He 

 talks and laughs, and does the hide-and-go-seek, all so childlike, that a listener who- 

 did not see the bird would say there were only a number of five-years '-old girla 

 running and screaming. No matter how bright and quick-witted the children may 

 be, our Magpie is always the leader, the children the followers. 



Magpies which have not been reared from the nest are not as capable of learn- 

 ing how to speak as the nestlings, or those which have been reared by hand. 

 When brought up by hand they easily acquire the power of speech in the same 

 manner as a Parrot, and the resemblance which the Magpie's voice bears to the 

 human voice is very striking. In some parts of Germany and England they are 

 regularly trained, and placed as attractions in the inns of villages, where they often 

 startle a customer by telling what he should drink, and by making remarks on the 

 extent of his purse, or chaffing him sharply on his personal appearance. 



The bird should at first be taught words with a few letters, and which should be 

 uttered in a sharp and distinct tone : such words as "Mag," "Crow," "Hello," 

 ' Jack," are the best. The Magpie learns readily ; and, as soon as he finds out the 

 reward which awaits him after his lesson, his ambition to become a trained linguist 

 often cools the ardor of the teacher giving the lessons. 



It is also a sad fact, that, no matter how well taught a Magpie may be, his mon- 

 keyish disposition remains with him ; and, if asked where some missing article has 

 been concealed, his answers are such as to lead one to suspect that he would be a 

 good subject for court-business in the way of a paid witness. The above are the 



