MAGPIE. 



567 



of their eggs and young, we feel bound to admit that the Magpie's few small 

 failings are amply counterbalanced by the good it undoubtedly performs. 

 After its young are reared and the game-birds and poultry are well able to 

 take care of themselves, the Magpie repairs to the pastures in search of 

 noxious insects and grubs. It will devour snails and worms, and is said 

 to take vermin from the sheep and cattle. In autumn it levies a trifling 

 tribute from the fruit-trees, and will eat acorns and beech-mast. When 

 hard pressed for food, it will not object to carrion, and has been known to 

 take small birds, whilst in sowing-time it may often be seen on the land 

 picking up the grain. 



The note of the Magpie is a harsh chatter, most frequently heard at 

 nightfall, when the birds are about to seek a roosting-place ; but in the 

 breeding-season it is said to utter a softer and more pleasant note. 



The Magpie, according to Sebright, affords an excellent quarry for 

 hawking ; and in his well-known work a most interesting description of this 

 sport may be found. 



The typical form of the Magpie has the head, neck, back, and breast 

 rich black glossed with greenish reflections ; the scapulars and belly are 

 pure white ; the lower part of the back and rump are greyish white, the 

 upper tail-coverts and the wings black, the latter richly glossed with 

 green and having an elongated patch of pure white, varying in length, 

 upon the inner web of each feather. The tail, which is much graduated, 

 is dull black below, but iridescent above on both webs of the two central 

 feathers, and on the outer web of all the others, and beautifully glossed 

 with greenish bronze and purple, and having a subterminal band of violet- 

 black. The under tail-coverts and thighs are dull black. Bill, legs, toes, 

 and claws black ; irides dark brown. The female and young birds resemble 

 the male. 



