By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



101 



marvel at the reflections of green and purple and blue which shine 

 with metallic brilliancy on its dark plumage, wondrously contrasted 

 with the purest white : its long graduating tail too, which it will 

 sometimes spread like a fan, at other times move up and down, is 

 another ornament, and adds much to its gracefulness. It seems 

 always on the alert for an enemy, and by its loud continuous 

 chattering, gives general warning when danger is near. Though 

 so frequent in all wooded districts, it is rarely to be met with on 

 our downs, and its poaching egg stealing propensities make it no 

 favorite with the gamekeeper : but in Norway it is safe from per- 

 secution, being regarded with the utmost superstitious fear rather 

 than reverence, and so it is the very tamest and commonest of 

 birds, scarcely moving out of our way as we passed by, and build- 

 ing its nest in some bush or tree close to a cottage door. Some- 

 thing of the same superstitious feeling appears to have been 

 generally entertained for the Magpie in this country, the remains 

 of which still linger in the following well known lines, signifying 

 the good or ill luck foretold by the number of these birds seen 

 together. 



" One for sorrow, two for mirth, 

 Three for a wedding, four for a birth." 



" Jay " Garrulus (glandarius) . This is another shy retiring 

 bird, restless and noisy, of exceeding handsome plumage, and much 

 persecuted by gamekeepers for its mischievous propensities, though 

 gardeners have a better right to complain of its evil deeds, for 

 fruit, rather than young birds and eggs, forms its favorite food : it 

 is however by no means particular whether it satisfies the cravings 

 of appetite with animal or vegetable diet : for its scientific name 

 glandarius is not distinctive, as all its congeners and several other 

 genera partake of the acorn with equal avidity with the Jay. It 

 is even a more confirmed chatterer than the Magpie, whence its 

 scientific name garrulus, and its note is harsh and grating : its 

 general colour is pale chocolate ; but the black and white crest 

 which it can elevate and depress at pleasure ; the bright blue, barred 

 with black and white, of its wing coverts ; and the contrast of the 

 white patch over the black tail, are its most striking points. It 



