92 MAGPIE. 
I stepped aside to see what they were doing, and found 
from the poor man and his wife, that these Magpies 
for several successive years had built their nest and 
brought up their young in this bush; and that the 
foxes, cats, etc. might not interrupt them, they had not 
only barricaded the nest, but had encircled the bush 
with briars and thorns in a formidable manner.” 
