THE MAGPIE AND THE JAY 251 



is astonishing how soon a new cock, or a new 

 hen, as the case may be, comes forward to con- 

 sole the bereaved one. There must be quite a 

 number of unattached birds of both sexes about 

 the country-side, yet one hardly ever sees a 

 solitary magpie, other than lone cocks when 

 their mates are sitting. Yet bachelor birds must 

 exist, for if not where do the new mates spring 

 from so quickly ? 



The magpie is a very sociable bird, it likes 

 company, and the family parties do not break 

 up, but remain together through the autumn 

 and winter. Sometimes several families will 

 join forces, but this can only happen in those 

 parts of the country where the bird is fairly 

 plentiful and not much persecuted. I have seen 

 flocks on two or three occasions, the largest being 

 one of from fifty to sixty birds, or possibly more. 

 They were in a small coppice, the wood seeming 

 quite alive with them, and, as I was on horseback, 

 they took no notice of me, but continued to hop 

 to and fro very busily about their business. I 

 counted over fifty and there were certainly more, 

 possibly over sixty. 



Though the jay is also of a sociable disposition, 

 it never flocks, i.e. the family parties do not 

 combine, but each clan " keeps itself to itself." 

 But I am getting on too fast, for nothing has yet 

 been said about the jay's nesting habits. Noisy 

 and impudent as the bird may be at other times 

 of year, a great change comes over it in the 

 early spring, when its talkativeness gives way 



