564 BRITISH BIRDS. 



example in the British Museum not reaching within two inches of the end 

 of any of the quills. To this form Hodgson gave the name of P. tibetana. 

 Siberian and American birds have, on an average, the longest tails ; to the 

 latter the name of P. hudsonica has been applied. Most examples from 

 the western Palsearctic Region have the second primary shorter than the 

 innermost secondaries ; whilst in examples from the eastern Palsearctic 

 and the western Nearctic Regions it is as long or longer than they are ; but 

 examples having this peculiarity are occasionally found in the western 

 Palsearctic Region. These four latter forms may possibly rank as sub- 

 species, but cannot be considered species ; and there seems to be some 

 doubt if the two first mentioned are specifically distinct; for some of the 

 Spanish birds may be considered somewhat intermediate, and examjiles 

 having a yellow bill are said sometimes to occiir in the British Islands. 



The Magpie is not altogether a woodland bird, although it is the 

 commonest in well-timbered districts, and especially in game-coverts 

 thickly interspersed with tall trees. Parks are its favourite haunts j but 

 it may often be seen beating in easy uncertain kind of flight over the 

 moors, whence it retreats to the fir-plantations on the hillsides. In the 

 pastures near these situations the Magpie may be often seen wandering 

 about amongst the feeding cattle or even perched on the back of a sheep. 

 If alarmed it usually betakes itself to the nearest cover, and always 

 appears averse to flying any great distance. In autumn and winter flocks 

 of Magpies are occasionally seen, generally before they retire to roost. 

 Dixon has known these birds collect from wide stretches of countrv, 

 and regularly repair at night to a small fir-plantation, where thev 

 evidently roosted. During the whole day not more than two birds 

 were to be seen in company; but as night approached, by concealing 

 himself under the trees, he saw them come to the trysting-place in 

 pairs and little parties, alighting in noisy converse on the tree-tops, 

 Tmtil by sunset at least a score individuals were gathered there for the 

 night. Apropos of this gregarious instinct in the Magpie may be quoted 

 the following rhyme : — 



" One for sorrow, 



And two for mirth ; 

 Three for a wedding, 

 And four for a birth." 



Although subject to such incessant persecution, the Magpie loves to 

 frequent the neighbourhood of houses ; and in many places, where it is 

 left unmolested, it will come quite close to the threshold, and even rear its 

 young in some tall bush open and exposed to the view of all. It is but 

 rarely that the bird will allow you to approach within gunshot. Shy 

 and wary, made timid by the knowledge that it receives no favour, it flits 

 from tree to tree before you, sometimes alighting on the ground, but only 



