LEGEND OF THE MAGPIE'S NEST-BUILDING 



ACCORDING to an old story, the magpie was the last 

 bird to learn nest-building. When it became neces- 

 sary for her to establish a home, though she was proud 

 and arrogant, she finally put away her pride to the extent of 

 asking the other birds to give her some iastruction in the art. 

 In their generosity they agreed and assembled on the ap- 

 pointed day to assist her. 



The materials having been collected, the blackbird, 

 taking up a twig, said: "Place that stick there," and laid 

 it in place. "Ah!" said the conceited magpie, -'I knew that 

 before." Each of the other birds there assembled followed 

 with useful suggestions, demonstrating every step, but all 

 through the lesson the heedless magpie chattered: "Ah! I 

 knew that before. Ah! I knew that before." 



At length, when the nest was but half completed, and 

 the patience of her instructors entirely exhausted, they said 

 with one voice: "Well, Mistress Mag, since you know all 

 about it you may build your nest yourself." 



From that day on, no bird of the wood would allow the 

 foolish magpie to see her building her own nest, even, and 

 so it is that magpies, ever since, have built ramshackle nests. 



72 



