72 CORVIDJ;, 



the magpie, and endeavours on every occasion to add a 

 trophy to the many others nailed against the outhouse do'or. 



As the food of the magpie consists of larvae and insects, it 

 commits no injury upon the farmer, who only disagrees with 

 it for abstracting some sickly chicken, or being over watchful 

 of the ducks' eggs laid about the farmyard. Of both these 

 charges the magpie is guilty ; but as they are circumstances 

 which rarely happen, they should not prejudice his character. 

 To such perfection does it carry the hardihood of roguery, 

 that it constructs its nest and rears its brood as near to the 

 farmyard as possible, and fears not the slightest danger of 

 being molested, for, with infinite caution, he changes the scene 

 of his thefts to some other farmyard situated at a distance 

 from home. 



In the park attached to the College situated in the centre 

 of our metropolis, the magpie yearly rears its brood. 



Indigenous. 



GENUS XXXII. GARKULUS (JAYS). 



SPECIES 68 THE JAY. 



Garrulus glandarius. Linn. 

 Geai ordinaire. Degl. 



HANDSOME as is the magpie, with its resplendent reflections, 

 and decided markings of black and white, it is fully equalled 

 by the tints and colours of this beautiful bird. 



A species of very rare occurrence in the northern portions 

 of the island, the jay is only to be found indigenous in some 

 few of our southern counties, and in very limited numbers. 

 We have abundant testimony that they once existed in much 

 greater numbers over portions of the island than at present, 

 as Rutty, in his History of the County of Dublin, mentions 

 the jay as a species occurring about the city in his own day, 

 a locality which for the last twenty years has not produced a 

 specimen. However, an ornithological friend assured us of 

 the occurrence of two specimens, some years since, at Rane- 

 lagh,* near Dublin. Several specimens, which have passed 

 under our own observation, in a recent state, appear to have 

 been all forwarded from their principal stronghold in Ireland 

 about Portarlington, where a gentleman who has shot them 

 in that locality remarks, " that, although they are rare, if 

 well sought for they can be obtained at all seasons." 



* Mr. Kinahan, 



