BIRDS' NESTS. 185 



CROW. Corvus Corone. 

 PLATE XIII. FIG. 2. 



THE nest of the Crow much resembles that 

 of the rook, but is more frequently placed in 

 the fork of a tree than among the topmost 

 branches, and is always solitary. The eggs 

 are of a pale bluish green, spotted with ash 

 colour and brown. 



MAGPIE. Pica caudata. 

 PLATE XIY. FIG. 1. 



THE nest of the Magpie resembles in shape 

 that of the wren, but is constructed of very 

 different materials. Conscious, perhaps, of his 

 natural propensity to cunning and plunder, he 

 is aware that his character is not held in very 

 high estimation, and that consequently he is 

 liable to be called to account for petty larceny, 

 at least, if not for open robbery. He there- 

 fore establishes himself in the centre of some 

 thick thorn-bush, or high up in a tree, which 

 his sharp eye has discovered to be difficult of 



