WORRIES HER ENEMIES 303 



One of her English names, "magot," and one of 

 her French names, "margot," fairly represent the 

 sound ; while two of her other colloquial names, 

 " chatter-pie " and "nan-pie," express sufficiently 

 the popular opinion as to her loquacity. Harsh 

 and rasping the note no doubt is, but it is suggestive 

 of much that is delightful in the country side. 

 Strangely enough, it has often proved of use to her 

 most deadly foe, the gamekeeper ; for it is her habit, 

 as it is also, sometimes, that of a jay, when she sees a 

 skulking enemy, to chatter vehemently, to follow him 

 about, and worry him till he has disappeared. Many 

 a stoat, a dog, a cat, sometimes even a lurking 

 poacher, has been discovered by the gamekeeper, 

 guided by her easily recognised note of alarm. 

 May not Shakespeare have had at least an inkling 

 it would be difficult to say of what observable 

 fact in Nature he did not have some inkling of this 

 habit of the magpie when he says : 



" Augurs, and understood relations have, 

 By magot-pyes and choughs and rooks brought forth 

 The secret'st man of blood ? " 



A flock of wood-pigeons, of peewits, of starlings, 

 will rise in a body from a field, and make off when 

 they hear the magpie's note of alarm, and so, 



