THE MAGPIE 



PICA CAUDATA 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A common and widely 

 distributed resident in all woodland localities, but decreas- 

 ing in many places owing to persecution. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : Although the Magpie has greatly decreased in 

 numbers, it is still sparingly distributed over the more 

 rural portions of the Metropolitan area as a breeding 

 species, and occasionally wanders to the central districts. 

 I have records of it from St. James's Park (where it 

 breeds regularly), the Green Park (where it is nesting this 

 spring, 1909), Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Battersea 

 Park, Peckham Rye, Clapham Common, Dulwich, Toot- 

 ing, Willesden, Hampstead, Highgate, and Greenwich. 

 If we take the above exceptions and that of the Wanstead 

 district, the Magpie does not appear to nest anywhere else 

 within the eight-mile radius. Beyond that limit the bird 

 breeds, or very recently did so, in the districts of Wembley, 

 Osterley, Hendon, Brockley Hill, Pinner, Ruislip, Southall, 

 Bushey, Kingston, Epsom, Banstead, Croydon, Down, the 

 Kentish Grays, Dartford, Epping, Waltham, and Barnet. 

 During the non-breeding season odd Magpies frequently 

 wander into the more central areas. In the winter of 

 1903-4 I saw three Magpies in Kilburn, and I have on 

 several occasions in spring met with pairs of them at 

 Neasden. I have also seen the Magpie in what was 

 formerly the show-grounds at Park Royal, as well as 

 at Twyford, Chiswick, and Ealing. 



There is no brighter or more effective bird-ornament 

 to the woodlands and fields than the Magpie, and its 

 presence should be encouraged in every suitable part of 

 suburban London. With proper care the bird could 



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