37 



Pica caudata. 



Magpie. 



EGG OBSERVED, 



April Sth, 1865. 

 April 2ncl, 1866. • 



April 13th, 1867. 

 April ISth, 1868. 

 April 22ncl, 1869. 

 1870. 



The Magpie may be seen in abundance in all the tall 

 hedgerows and copses near Marlborough, and occasionally 

 even in the Forest, while its cumbrous domed nests may be 

 seen for a long distance in the winter. 



The deserted nests are generally occupied bj' a kestrel or 

 sparrow hawk. 



The old myth of the existence of two species — i.e., the 

 " Bush Magpie" and the '' Tree Magpie," is still firmly 

 believed in here. 



I may perhaps be excused if I take this opportunity of 

 recording a very curious variety of this bird, now in my 

 collection, even though it was not obtained in Wiltshire. 

 The bird alluded to is of a beautiful brownish cream colour 

 all over, including the beak. This bird was shot in 

 November, 1868, near the town of Oxford, 



