THE MAGPIE AND THE JAY 243 



As regards its flight, it really flies better 

 than it appears to, getting along at a good pace, 

 but the impression it makes is that it is a slow 

 and feeble flier. However, whether in the air 

 or on the ground, its peculiar and conspicuous 

 colour pattern leaves no doubt as to its identity, 

 for there is no other European bird like it, and 

 its markings seldom vary, though when one does 

 meet with freaks they are generally extraordinary 

 ones. Take for instance a unique magpie that 

 was shot at Wenlock in Shropshire. 1 The parts 

 of the plumage that are usually black were a 

 dull fawn, excepting the wings, under-parts 

 and tail, which were nearly white, and the top 

 of its head, which was grey. A further pecu- 

 liarity was that it had abnormal tail and wing 

 feathers, for they were hairy like those of a 

 silky fowl. The latter characteristic is due to 

 the absence of the minute hooks which in 

 normal feathers hold the fibres together. But 

 such a freak as this is very rare, and as a rule 

 the magpie adheres strictly to its black and white 

 uniform. 



Some naturalists hold that the black and white 

 of the magpie and the gay colours of the jay 

 are warning or advertising schemes ; that their 

 beautiful and conspicuous hues are to let all 

 carnivorous creatures know that they are not 

 good to eat; but the point is, are these birds 



1 A full account of this magpie, and of another extraordinary 

 specimen that was obtained at Longnor, Salop, was given by 

 Mr. H. E. Forrest in the Shrewsbury Chronicle, June 3, 1921. 



