i88 



THE NATURE BOOK 



districts because of its egg-thieving pro- 

 pensities. Next, perhaps, to its strongly 

 contrasted colours, the most striking pecu- 

 liarity in connection with the Magpie 

 is the monstrously long hops by which it 



of tlu)rny sticks, whereas the Jackdaw 

 usually builds in holes of trees, masonry, 

 or sea-cliffs, and. though rarely, in rabbit 

 burrows. 



The eggs of the Jacktlaw assimilate to 



A JAY ILIiDlNG \l\M NKSTLiNGS. 



seems able to progress on the ground 

 with a minimum of apparent exertion. 



Whilst Rooks and Crows build large and 

 clumsy open nests, the MagjMe covers 

 its deeper-cupped nursery with a dome 



those of the rest of the Crow family, in 

 that they are of a pale blue ground- 

 colour, but spotted and blotched rather 

 than streaked with superimposed (almost 

 black) markings. Now it is very unusual 



