THE MAGPIE. 185 



ruins to all the grandeur of modern dwellings. But in the Penkill 

 instance they seem to have appreciated the accommodation pro- 

 vided for them, and apparently have taught their offspring to 

 regard the castle and its occupants as a safe refuge and pleasant 

 company. 



The following lines, descriptive of their early movements, are 

 from the pen of a gentleman who has a pleasant recollection of 

 their romantic haunts : 



WRITTEN AT PENKILL CASTLE IN SPRING. 



This morn at dawn within the temperate clime 



Of conscious half-sleep in my chamber high, 



I heard the jackdaws murmuring, " Let us fly, 

 Let's fly; " 'twas near the ploughman's starting time, 

 And many feeble caws in answer chime 



" Hie, hie away, grey heads: " when they had flown, 



There was a perfect lull, and I went down 

 Into deep slumber, beneath dream or rhyme. 



But suddenly a louder clamour came, 

 The little jackdaws, clamouring every one, 



The old beaks had returned with worm and fly: 



I looked up, and the room was all aflame, 

 Above the tree tops was the brave young sun, 



The lark was up beside him in the sky. 



VV. B. S. 



THE MAGPIE. 



PICA CAUDATA. 

 Pioghaid. 



THIS lively and beautiful bird seems to adhere strictly to the 

 mainland, being seldom found on any of the islands. It is wholly 

 unknown in the Outer Hebrides, but is occasionally seen in Islay 

 and Mull, where, however, it does not breed. 



Twenty years ago the Magpie was abundant in the neighbour- 

 hood of Glasgow. In my early morning walks, about three miles 

 from the city, I have seen as many as twelve or fourteen hopping 

 on the public road. So recently, indeed, as three years ago, I 

 counted twenty-eight perched on one tree at Scotstown, between 

 Glasgow and Yoker. This was late in the afternoon, in 

 winter time, and the Magpies had apparently assembled there 

 with the intention of remaining over the night, the noise of 



