THE MAGPIE 
AGPIES are related to the crows and 
jays, and have habits like theirs in many 
m. respects. They are striking birds in irri- 
descent blue-black and white uniforms 
and have very long and expressive tails. 
Magpies are social, and usually occur 
in small flocks. They are noisy, their voices being 
harsh and unmusical. They find much of their food 
on the ground. It is interesting to watch a mag- 
pie feed; it hops about with great agility, making 
sudden leaps this way and that, when hunting 
grubs, snails and grasshoppers. 
The magpie nest is a complicated structure of 
sticks and mud built in layers; it is lined with fine 
roots, and over the whole is placed a roof of sticks, 
leaving a door at one side. Around the door, and 
over and above the whole nest is placed a covering 
of thorns to discourage visitors. The nest is situat- 
ed in a high tree, or in a dense bush. 
The magpie which we buy of the bird-dealers is 
usually the European species; but we have in our 
Western states, from Arizona to Alaska, a magpie 
which is considered a variety of the European spec- 
ies. It builds a nest like the latter, except that it 
has another opening opposite the door for the ac- 
commodation of its long tail. 
As apet, the magpie is as cunning and mischievous 
as the crow or jay; and it can learn to talk better 
than either. It is able to say whole sentences and 
laugh hilariously. It loves to steal and hide glitter- 
ing objects; it is especially inquisitive, and will in- 
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