90 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



just after being killed or caught, its iridescent raiment 

 shows tints in brightness rivalling the hues of the 

 rainbow. 



It will be a surprise to ornithologists when I prove- 

 as I hope ere long to be able to do — that in England we 

 have two distinct species of this very familiar bird ! 



MAGPIES IN A MADHOUSE. 



I have received account of a singular incident, furnished 

 me by the chaplain of a west- county lunatic asylum, in 

 which five of these birds were kept as pets for the amuse- 

 ment of the patients. They had been in the establish- 

 ment before the chaplain received his appointment to it ; 

 and one day, shortly after entering on his duties, he was 

 out in the grounds along with several others, when a 

 , Magpie flew towards him, alighted on his shoulder, and 

 commenced nibbling at his ear. Astonished, and some- 

 what annoyed, he brushed the bird off; only to have it 

 j"eturn again, and recommence the pecking process, which 

 gave him no pain, as the thing was done gently, and 

 seemingly in play. Still it tickled, while further as- 

 tonishing him ; all the more after repeated drivings off 

 and back-comings of the bird. Not till then became 

 he aware of the cause of its persistency, this a strange 

 one. 



It appeared, as told him, that he bore a striking like- 

 ness to a former patient in the asylum, lately deceased, 

 who had been a favourite of this Magpie, the bird being 



