Bird*. 2431 



wards recovered and flew away. At another time, as we were going 

 early in the morning towards some traps baited with small birds, for 

 hawks, a large number of rooks flew up from the spot : on arriving 

 there, we found, in two traps, the mangled and still warm remains of 

 rooks, who, having been caught in their endeavours to get at the spar- 

 rows with which the traps were baited, had been set upon and de- 

 voured by their own companions. 



Magpie {Pica caudata). The sagacity and the love of mischief 

 often exhibited by the magpie when tamed are equally surprising. 

 We have at different times reclaimed many of these birds, and have 

 derived much amusement from their tricks. The degree of calculation 

 displayed in some of their actions seems to reach far beyond the 

 bounds of instinct, and to invest them with a share of that reasoning 

 power which the jealousy of our nature is so unwilling to allow to the 

 inferior animals. Among the various proofs of the existence of some 

 anomalous faculty of this kind in the magpie, which have occurred to 

 us during a long and familiar intercourse with his species, the follow- 

 ing anecdote will perhaps serve to illustrate these remarks, exhibiting 

 a power certainly not comprehended in the ordinary notion of instinct. 

 The bird whose " sayings and doings " are the subject of this story 

 was in the habit of using as a larder, for food not immediately re- 

 quired, some long grass at the bottom of a row of iron hurdles. This 

 hoard was discovered and often robbed by a favourite terrier. One 

 morning Mag was observed in great excitement, hopping up and down 

 the hurdles, chattering incessantly, and rapidly repeating every word 

 in his vocabulary at the dog, who was quietly pursuing his nefarious 

 practices. But the dog in his search had overlooked a tuft of grass 

 in which a piece of beef was concealed. Mag was at the spot in a 

 moment, drew forth his treasure, and securely fixed it on the highest 

 bar of the hurdles, far above the dog's reach. He then, at a little 

 distance, began pruning his feathers, chattering to himself with a very 

 self-satisfied air, occasionally hopping back to take another look at 

 his recovered meal, and apparently priding himself on his skill. 



Green woodpecker {Picus viridis). We have frequently seen this 

 bird busily employed in boring conical holes into ants' nests, and then 

 securing with his tongue the insects, which — falling down the sloping 

 sides — lay in great numbers at the bottom of the hole. 



Great spotted woodpecker {Picus major). This is not a common 

 species, but its nest has been found near Oxford, and the bird itself 

 is occasionally met with throughout the year. 



Wren {Troglodytes vulgaris). This little bird is very useful to the 



