210 CORVID.E. 



a foot of the nest. This barricade was formed, not only 

 beneath and around the nest, but continued above to 

 the height of at least half a yard from the top of the 

 nest, with only one small space left on one side to allow 

 of the entrance of the bird. This curious superstructure, 

 although too thin to serve as a protection from the wind 

 or the rain, or from the heat of the sun, is admirably adapted 

 to defend the young from the attacks of birds of prey, or the 

 eggs from weasels, whose lithe and slender bodies even could 

 not effect an entrance at any part, except, perhaps, the 

 before-mentioned door-way : and equally calculated to defend 

 them from enemies still more cruel and relentless, namely 

 village boys, who would hardly be able, without violence 

 to themselves, to break through such thorny defences. 



The eggs of this species are six or seven in number ; are in 

 colour bluish white, freckled over, chiefly at the larger end, 

 with ash colour and olive brown. 



The Magpie has the head, throat, breast, and upper part 

 of the back of an unmixed black : the same colour also 

 covers the centre of the belly, the thighs and the upper 

 and under coverts of the tail. The greater quill-feathers 

 are brownish black on the outer web, and tips of the inner ; 

 the rest of each feather is white : the secondary quills, ter- 

 tials, and greater wing-coverts, are brilliant metallic purple : 

 the lesser coverts of the wing black. The white scapulars 

 form a distinct line from the shoulder of each wing to 

 the middle of the back : the lower part of the breast 

 and flanks are also white. The long and graduated fea- 

 thers of the tail are brilliant metallic green from the base to 

 near the tip of the feathers, which are terminated by reflec- 

 tions of olive, violet and steel-blue : the inner webs of all, 

 except the centre pair, are purplish black. 



The entire length of this bird is about sixteen inches : 



