THE MAGPIE. 



Corvus pica Lixx^rs, PENNANT, BEWICK. 



find among our familiar wild 

 birds, perhaps, none more 

 thoroughly familiar than the 

 Magpie ; yet it falls to the 

 lot of few of those with whom 

 it is a household name to see 

 it wild. In fact, it is more as 

 a household pet that people 

 know the Magpie, and those 

 who are only acquainted with 

 the clipped or caged bird, that 

 has probably been reared by 

 hand from the nest, can have 

 but a faint idea of his very 

 handsome appearance, and little 

 idea of the audacious pilferings 

 (not to use a harder phrase) of 

 this restless but interesting bird 

 when wild. The habits of the 

 Magpie in a natural state re- 

 main, however, even in confine- 

 ment. It seems to be a part 

 of the bird's existence to steal 

 and hide. Most of us remember the nursery-tales of 

 the " Basket of Eggs " and the " Maid and the Magpie/' 



