escape their sharp eyes, and presently rising, they fly directly 

 over the field, chattering vehemently, and the flock of plovers 

 on this take wing, and the disappointed young sportsrnen sheer 

 off in another direction." 



Magpies always make a great chattering when they are dis- 

 turbed, or when they apprehend that danger is near. Waterton 

 says that they are vociferous at the approach of night, and that 

 they are in truth valuable watchmen on that account. "Who- 

 ever enters the wood," he says, " is sure to attract their notice, 

 and then their challenge is incessant. When I hear them dur- 

 ing the night, or even during the day, I know that mischief is 

 on the stir. Three years ago, at eleven o'clock in the day, I 

 was at the capture of one of the most expert and desperate 

 poachers, to whose hiding-place we were directed by the. chatter 

 of the magpies." 



The poor magpie has many enemies, and, knowing this, is 

 always on the watch, and easily alarmed. 



Its mode of walking is like that of the rook, but not having 

 any dignity to maintain, it every now and then leaps in a side- 

 long direction. When alarmed itself, or wishing to announce 

 danger to other birds, it utters a sort of chuckling cry or 

 chatter. If a fox or cat, or any other unfriendly animal, ap- 

 proaches, it hovers about it, and alarms the whole neighbour- 

 hood by its cries till the enemy is out of sight. 



Like the jackdaw, it generally keeps in pairs the whole year 

 round ; and, indeed, when birds continue to inhabit the same 

 nest, season after season, it is quite natural that they should do 

 so. It is a curious fact, however, that if by any accident the 

 hen-magpie is killed, whilst sitting on her eggs, her mate sets 



