244 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



PRACTICAL JOKES AMONG BIRDS. 



Connected with one of the large western cities is a beautiful park. 

 In this park are kept a great many birds and animals. Of course there 

 :are various large and small cages, and sometimes the birds and animals 

 are bunched together. In almost every instance the creatures dwell 

 together in perfect harmony. 



In one large, airy cage were kept two magpies (a male and female), 

 a parrot, a crow and a pine squirrel. The park keeper and crowds of 

 visitors have had a great deal of amusement in watching the antics of 

 these creatures. They were always playing practical jokes upon each 

 ■other. Everyone knows what natural thieves the magpies are. They 

 will pilfer everything that can be carried away. After stealing all sorts 

 •of little articles, the magpies will carefully hide them away somewhere. 

 They are like the wood-rat in their thievish propensities. Everything 

 will be carried off and hidden whether or not they are of any earthly use 

 to the animals. Apparently they steal just out of pure mischief. 



The two magpies in the cage were constantly up to all sorts of tricks. 

 •Generally these pranks were played at the expense of the old crow. 

 The crow had a great habit of burying a part of his food; all that he 

 ■could not devour at one time, was carefully hidden away for future 

 need. True to his instincts, the crow in the cage did this; then his 

 troubles began. The mischievous magpies would stealthily watch the 

 •crow and discover where he cached his food treasures. Then, when he 

 was dozing away, or not closely observing, the thieves would sneak 

 •over, dig up what co?-vus had hidden, carry it away and secrete it else- 

 where. 



When the crow would look for what he had buried he could not find 

 it. Now the magpies would have their fun. They would slyly watch 

 the crow, and greatly enjoy his puzzled discomforture. He would go 

 looking about with a wise mystified air; this would set the scoundrelly 

 magpies to screaming and chattering in glee. Finally one day the 

 wary old crow nodded with his eyes open, and that was the way he 

 ■caught the two theives. He quietly resolved on retaliation, though, at 

 the time of discovery he gave the magpies a good thrashing. After 

 this, there was no end of fun among the cage inmates. The magpies 

 had to sleep and while they snoozed the crow got even. He would see 

 where the magpies had hidden their stores, and would dig them up and 

 hide them. Then the magpies would look and were puzzled, and the 

 crow would have his quiet chuckle in one corner. From day to day 

 this hide and seek game went on, but the crow held his own against 

 the two pirates. 



