THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



possibly be established in all the big parks, where its 

 strongly contrasted plumage and interesting ways could 

 not fail to prove an increased attraction. For the most 

 part the Magpie is a somewhat solitary bird, seldom more 

 than a pair being seen in company, and as likely as not 

 odd individuals. But there are times when more social 

 tendencies are displayed. In spring and autumn small 

 parties assemble occasionally, and in winter especially 

 certain roosting-places are common to numbers. The 

 Magpie seeks most of its food on the ground ; otherwise 

 it loves the trees, and may often be seen a fluttering 

 mixture of black and white passing from one isolated 

 tree to another, usually flying up into the branches in 

 preference to descending into them. It is shy and wary 

 at most times, but in the breeding season often displays 

 more trustfulness. Its food chiefly consists of worms, 

 insects, and grubs, fruit, acorns, beech-mast, and any 

 carrion it may meet with. It is also an inveterate egg- 

 stealer, despoiling many nests, and will frequently carry 

 off a young chick. Its note is a harsh chatter, heard 

 most frequently at nightfall, and in the breeding season 

 modulated in a variety of ways. The Magpie pairs for 

 life, and yearly frequents the same nest, or builds another 

 in the vicinity. This is usually made in a tree or lofty 

 hedge, but sometimes an isolated bush is selected ; and 

 very often a site is chosen quite close to a house. It is a 

 massive, well-built structure formed outwardly of sticks 

 thorns by preference cemented together with large 

 quantities of clay or mud, which material forms the inner 

 cup. At this stage an intricate roof of sticks is added, a 

 passage through them being left on one side near the rim ; 

 and finally a thick lining of roots is added. The eggs, 

 from six to nine in number, range from cream to bluish 

 green, densely blotched and freckled over most of the 

 surface with olive-brown, and occasionally streaked with 

 darker brown. During incubation the sitting bird slips 

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