In Forest and Copse. 139 



Redmires. Within this few miles of timber we have 

 frequently known as many as a dozen nests of the 

 Magpie all occupied. In not a few cases the old 

 nest was returned to each spring, renovated and 

 used again. Some of these nests were made high 

 up in the oak and alder trees, others were placed in 

 birch-trees, and less frequently in a stunted white- 

 thorn growing amidst the briars and brambles and 

 bracken and boulders of millstone grit on the open 

 rough land. Not a few were placed in the alder- 

 trees that fringed the streams between the reservoirs. 

 The Jay, on the other hand, was a scarce bird here, 

 for the woods had little or no undergrowth, in which 

 that bird specially delights. In most other woods 

 of our acquaintance the Magpie was a sorely-perse- 

 cuted species, and every bird and every nest were 

 destroyed that the keepers could discover. Several 

 times during the course of the spring many keepers 

 hold a grand " vermin battue". A keeper will gather 

 round him half a dozen village loafers, and then the 

 precious party will proceed to hunt the covers, killing 

 every Magpie, Jay, or Hawk that comes in their 

 way, and pulling out every nest they can discover. 

 We know the ways of these gentry only too well, for 

 years ago we often accompanied such a party, help- 

 less to save, yet glad to increase our knowledge of 

 woodland bird-life. Not a few nests have we seen 

 on these occasions and held our peace, or visited 



