MacprieE. OMNIVORI. CORVUS. 17 
Will. p. 87. t. 19.—Briss. 2. p. 35. 1.—Wils. Amer. Orn. v. 4. p. 75, Pl. 35. 
‘5 
La Pie, Buff. Ois. v. 3. p. 85.—Id. Pl. Enl. 488. 
Pie, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. v. 1. p. 113. 
Garten-Grabe, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. v. 2. p. 1267.—Frisch, Vog. t. 58. 
Magpie, Br. Zool. 1. No. 78. res Zeal: 2. No. 66.—Lewin’s Br. Birds, 
t. 39. Will. (Ang.) p. 127. t. 19.—Lath. Syn. 1. p. 392. 29.—Id. Sup. p. 80. 
—Mont. Ornith. Dict.—Bewick’s Br. Birds.—Pult. Cat. Dorset. p. 5.— 
Don. Br. Birds, 4. t. 95.—Shaw’s Zool. 7. p. 369. 
Provincial, Pianet, Madge. 
This common, but handsome species of crow is generally Locality. 
dispersed through the united kingdom, except in very moun- 
tainous districts. It is a bird of crafty and restless disposi- 
tion, and, although shy, and singularly wary, is commonly 
seen near the habitation of man.—It is omnivorous, even to Food. 
a greater degree than any of the species. No animal food, 
observes Montacu, comes amiss to its voracious appetite, 
It preys indiscriminately upon young poultry, eggs, and ten- 
der lambs, as well as the most offensive carrion. Is very de- 
structive to the young of all kinds of game, and does not re- 
fuse grain, insects, and worms. 
These birds are usually observed in pairs, and continue to- 
gether through the whole year. At times, however, they 
appear to hold social meetings, during which they are very 
clamorous, and maintain a continued chattering. In winter, 
they often assemble in numbers to roost in particular districts, 
but separate again during the day. When an old bird of 
this species has been shot, or caught in a trap, during the 
breeding season, I have frequently been surprised at the short 
period that intervened before the survivor was provided with 
another mate, 1m some instances scarcely exceeding the space 
of a day. 
Tn the fabrication of its nest, the magpie displays wonder- Nest, &. 
ful ingenuity, rendering it not only a sheltered and warm re- 
sidence for its young, but even a secure fortress against ex- 
ternal enemies.’ The outer part is composed of sticks, lined 
with a thick plastering of clay, on which is disposed a soft 
bed of the small fibres of roots and dry grass. Over the 
body of the nest is erected a covering or dome, composed of 
