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CHAPTER XX. 



THE MAGPIE. 



I SUPPOSE there are few of my readers unacquainted with 

 the bold, not to say saucy, bird that forms the subject 

 of the present chapter; but if any are so unfortunate, let 

 them hasten, with what speed they may, to form his ac- 

 quaintance; and when they have done so, I think they will 

 agree with me, that a more charming, a more delightful, and 

 a more mischievous bird does not exist. 



Clad in black and white, but such black and white! each 

 perfect in its way, the Magpie, Corvus pica (the Crow Pie) 

 in Latin, la Pie in Prench, and die JElster in German, is one 

 of the most conspicuous denizens of our woods and fields; 

 essentially a country bird, he is nevertheless extremely fond 

 of human society, but seldom comes near a town, opining 

 wisely, that the smoke and dirt incidental to such a situation 

 would soon mar the purity of his snow-white breast and 

 wing coverts; while the metallic lustre of his head, back and 

 tail would run a great risk of rapidly fading away. 



The length of this bird is about eighteen inches, of which 

 the tail measures ten. It makes a nest of sticks plastered 

 together with mud, and domed over with thorns, reserving 

 two round apertures in the structure opposite each other for 

 entrance and exit; it is usually built in the tops of tall trees, 

 but I have seen the nest in a six-foot high bush, when no 

 better accommodation was to be had; it is lined with roots 

 and grass. The Magpie has generally two broods in the season, 

 laying each time from five to seven or eight bluish green 

 eggs spotted with grey and brown, but the more common 

 number is six, one of which I have invariably found to be 

 barren. 



