346 THE BIRDS OF ATJSTEALIA 



both sexes pretending to assist. When the fracas is ended, the 

 usual solo and chorus is given. After which the married couple 

 fly off together. The union, I think, is lifelong with some of 

 the birds, because one frequently sees an old pair together in 

 one locality sticking to each other in and out of season, and for 

 years using the same tree to nest in." 



The male bird is a most attentive and faithful mate during 

 the period of incubation, purveying food supplies for the hen 

 bird with great assiduity and tenderness. Both parents keep 

 an eye on their offspring practically up to the next breeding 

 season, and may occasionally be seen giving grubs or other 

 delicacies to the full-grown birds. If robbed of their young 

 they show unmistakable signs of sorrow, wearing an air of 

 utter dejection. How deep the nesting instinct is implanted 

 was seen in the case of a female bird, kept for many years in 

 captivity by Mr. H. J. Carter, which each year made up an 

 elaborate nest in, alas vain, anticipation of domestic joys. While 

 thus engaged she would call the family with loud squawks to 

 assist her, would take eagerly the proffered twigs and arrange 

 them to her liking, not always with a due appreciation of 

 mechanical principles, for sometimes the bottom fell out. 



Magpies have an excess of vitality, which, apart from their 

 exuberant song, they manifest in the wild state in sundry 

 gambols and mirthful frolics, such as running round trees or 

 stumps as if playing at hide and seek; darting at one another 

 as if pretending to want to fight, or trying to catch one another 

 by the tail when on the wing. Hence of all our native birds 

 they make the best pets. No doubt the owner has to put up with 

 a good deal of misdirected energy in the way of amateur 

 gardening as well as the well known habit of hiding away auA- 

 small bright object which they see lying about, but the birds 

 show a remarkable degree of intelligence and also of affection. 



Of intelligence Mr. Batey gives a striking instance: "Our 

 magpie was possessed of extraordinary memory. Her favourite 

 perch was a quince tree down the garden. One night a native 

 cat attacked her, and my brother and myself rushed to the rescue. 

 She never forgot the episode, and ever after would turn up 

 punctually at dusk to be placed on the kitchen cross-beam. It 

 was intensely amusing to watch the pretty coaxing methods she 



