122 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



general thieving propensities and rascality they must bow to the su- 

 perior abilities of the Magpie. They are very noisy, artful and crafty, 

 and set up a discordant chatter at the sight of almost any creature. At 

 all times they appear to be hostile to all forms of life, either bird or 

 animal. 



If captured when they are young they can easily be tamed, can be 

 taught to perform many tricks, and it is said can be also taught to imi- 

 tate many words. One thing they will not learn is to let alone what 

 does not belong to them. Like a certain political party, they do not 

 believe in the private ownership of property, unless it belongs to them- 

 selves, and will go to no end of trouble to purloin any object that takes 

 their fancy because of its brightness or color. 



Their mode of flight is by short rapid wing beats as though with con- 

 siderable exertion, and their long, broad, tapering tail appears to great- 

 ly impede their progress. When an ordinary breeze is blowing it is 

 quite diflficult for them to steer a straight course and their evolutions 

 are sometimes of a laughable character as they try to keep themselves 

 right side up. On the ground they either hop or walk as their fancy 

 strikes them. If suddenly startled when feeding on the ground, they 

 will make the most frantic efiPorts to get out of the way as quickly as 

 possible. It makes little difference to them as to their manner of re- 

 treat, as they appear to hop forwards, backwards, or sideways with 

 equal ease. 



If they are not hunted they become very friendly and impertinent, 

 and numbers of them may be found around some farm houses. They 

 will appropriate anything that they can pick up, edible or not, and in 

 some cases become very much of a nuisance. They will eat with equal 

 readiness, grain, fruit, insects, shell fish, fish, carrion, birds eggs, and 

 even young birds. They are said to hunt for insects on the backs of 

 sheep or cattle, and according to Bendire, there is some evidence that 

 they will even peck into the backs of some of these animals at the flesh. 



If it were not for their laziness where actual work is needed, they 

 would make very good housekeepers. They have rather advanced 

 ideas of building their nests but do not have the patience to carry them 

 out. They realize that on many occasions a roof to their dwelling 

 would be a very great convenience, and so put one over it. It is built 

 in such a shiftless manner, however, that it would be full as well with- 

 out this improvement. The Magpies remain mated for life and add to 

 the same home each year until it becomes of such proportions that the 

 winds of winter blow it from its situation. 



