410 THE MAGPIE. 



manner, and at last batters it against a stone or branch for the purpose of breaking the 

 shell The natural consequence is, that the birdlime immediately clings to the beak, and 

 the broken fragments of shell, which fly in every direction, cover the wings and plumage 

 as the bird tries to shake itself loose from its impediments, and the Magpie falls to 

 the ground in a hopelessly crippled state, and becomes an easy victim to the author 

 of the snare. 



The Magpie also attacks full-grown birds, mice, reptiles of various kinds, and has been 

 observed in the act of killing a common grass snake. Beetles it eats in very large 

 quantities, and also feeds upon worms, snails, and various similar creatures, so that the 

 harm which it does to the game and poultry is probably more than compensated by its 

 good offices in ridding the gardens and cultivated grounds of their varied foes. It also 

 eats fruits, and has been seen to feast eagerly on the light, succulent berries of the 

 mountain ash. 



like the crow, the Magpie is a determined persecutor of various birds and beasts of 

 prey, scarcely allowing a hawk to pass within ken, or a weasel or stoat to glide along the 

 bottom of a hedge without screeching forth an alarm and a summons to its allies, and 

 dashing at once to the attack. Mr. Metcalf relates, that while in Norway, he saw 

 his dog pursued and mobbed by at least forty of these birds. The same writer also 

 remarks, that he captured a Magpie by means of a piece of meat on a hook. The bird 

 took the bait as eagerly as any perch would have done, and, to its profound astonishment, 

 was immediately hooked. Mr. Metcalf amused himself for a little while in " playing " 

 the bird as if it had been a fish, with this difference, that the Magpie was trying to escape 

 by flight, and poured forth a succession of most dismal yells, which sent off all its 

 formerly valiant companions screaming with terror at the unexpected sight. 



The nest of the Magpie is a rather complicated edifice, domed, with an entrance at the 

 side, and mostly formed on the exterior of three branches, so as to afford an effectual 

 protection against any foe who endeavours to force admittance into so strong a fortress. 

 Generally the nest is placed at the very summit of some lofty tree, the bird usually 

 preferring those trees which run for many feet without a branch. The tops of tall pines 

 are favourite localities for the Magpie's nest, as the trunk of these trees is bare of branches 

 except at the summit, and the dark green foliage of the spreading branches is so thick 

 that it affords an effectual shelter to the large and conspicuous edifice which rests upon 

 the boughs. Sometimes, however, when the Magpie has been protected, and accustomed 

 itself to the vicinity of human habitations, it has fixed its nest in a low bush near the 

 ground, as if trusting to the kindly feelings of its human neighbours. 



Although displaying great attachment to its mate, and the most dauntless courage in 

 defending its nest and young, its affections seems to be rather transient in their character, 

 and quite unable to withstand the test of absence. For example, if one Magpie of a 

 pair be shot, the survivor never fails to find another mate within the space of two or three 

 days. Sometimes the period of widowhood exists only for some twenty-four hours, and 

 there have been instances where a Magpie has found another mate within a few hours 

 after the decease of its former spouse. 



When tame, it is a most amusing bird, teaching itself all kinds of odd tricks, and 

 learning to talk with an accuracy and volubility little inferior to that of the parrot. It is, 

 however, a most incorrigibly mischievous bird, and unless subjected to the most careful 

 supervision is capable of doing a very great amount of damage in a wonderfully short 

 space of time. I have witnessed a multitude of these exploits, but as I have already 

 related many of them in my "Feathered Friends," the reader is referred to the pages 

 of that little work for a tolerably long series of new and original Magpie anecdotes. 



Mr. Thompson tells an amusing story of a tame Magpie which struck up a friend- 

 ship with a peculiarly long-wooled sheep. The bird was accustomed to sit on the 

 bnck of its friend, couching luxuriantly upon the long thick fleece, and making short 

 excursions among the sheep for the purpose of pecking their legs, and making them run 

 about. He also employed the fleece of his friend as a treasury of stolen goods, being accus- 

 tomed to hide his pilferings among the thick wool and mount guard over them. The same 

 writer has published the following interesting account of a tame Magpie belonging to 



