THE MAGPIE. 101 



mage, although very simple, is yet handsome. It is black and 

 white, but both colours are exceedingly bright, and it is still 

 further ornamented by its conical tail, which has a purple tinge 

 at the tip, and so passes off into steel-blue. 



Food. In its natural state, the Magpie feeds on insects, 

 worms, berries, and roots ; but when tame, or in the aviary, 

 prefers meat and bread, and, if well trained, will appear at the 

 dining-parlour window at meal times, and eat whatever may 

 be offered it from the table. If more be given it than it can 

 eat, it conceals what is left for another meal. This propensity 

 may be remarked from the very first, in the young birds which 

 are reared from the nest. 



Breeding. The Magpie builds on trees near human habita- 

 tions, and generally lays four or five whitish-green eggs, 

 covered with ashen-grey and olive-brown spots and stripes. 



Attractive Qualities. Of all German birds, the Magpie may 

 be most easily and most completely tamed. It imitates all 

 striking sounds, and learns to speak with even less difficulty than 

 the various descriptions of Crows. It must, however, be taken 

 out of the nest when quite young, and systematically in- 

 structed. PLUTAECH mentions one, in the possession of a barber 

 at Borne, which, of its own accord, imitated not only the human 

 voice, but the cries of various animals, and the sound of in- 

 struments ; and was a general subject of conversation through- 

 out the quarter of the city in which its owner lived. It may 

 be taught to come and go at call without difficulty, and may 

 be made tamer than the Pigeon, as it becomes exceedingly fond 

 of the various delicacies of the table, and only eats worms 

 and insects as dainties. The chief thing to be looked to, in the 

 case not only of this, but of all birds which are to be tamed, 

 is to take the young ones from the nest when they are a fort- 

 night old. It must be fed at first on bread soaked in milk or 

 water, afterwards on chopped meat, and at last on any kitchen 

 refuse, or even cooked or rotten apples and pears which are 

 useless for any other purpose. When it is so far fledged as to 

 be able to reach a neighbouring tree, let it fly till it is tired, 

 and then be lured back to its home. This may be repeated till 

 it is completely fledged, when the wings must be a little 

 clipped, till winter, when the feathers may be entirely pulled 

 out, and allowed to grow again. At last it will become so ac- 

 customed to its owner, and the place where he lives, that it 



