THE MAGPIE AND THE JAY 241 



keeps to the shelter of the woodlands, and is 

 nowhere so plentiful as in the West of England, 

 where thick bush-clad dingles and much wild 

 tree-covered country give it the hunting grounds 

 that it loves. Here it ranges through the big 

 coverts and out into the tree-dotted fields, adding 

 that touch of colour and animation to the scene 

 which no other bird can give, not even its striking 

 and handsome relative the magpie, also classed, 

 like the jay, in the family Corvidce, i.e. with 

 the rooks, crow, raven, etc. 



For " brains " and general intelligence, for 

 what I have heard described as having " mentality 

 of a high order/' this family cannot be beaten 

 among birds, and high among a clever assembly 

 I would place the magpie, with next to it its 

 cousin the jay. Both, for cunning and general 

 " cuteness," are hard to beat, but of the two 

 the magpie is undoubtedly the more acute. How 

 quick it is to become aware of danger, how quick 

 to note the appearance of a man with a gun, 

 and how cunning it is in the matter of traps ! 

 But indeed it needs all its wits about it, for 

 every man's hand is against it. If it were 

 not for its exceptional alertness, it must long 

 since have been exterminated ; instead, it is still 

 far from being uncommon in any part of the 

 country. 



Before going on to deal with the magpie's 

 character, and it is a bird with considerable charac- 

 ter, it will be necessary to recall to the reader's mind 

 its appearance. At first glance it appears to be 



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