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British Cage Birds. 



Habits and Breeding. — The Magpie is indigenous to this 

 country, and common throughout the greater part of England, 

 Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It also inhabits France, Germany, 

 Italy, and other European countries, and has been discovered 

 in North America. 



The Magpie is very destructive in its habits. It damages 

 plantations of young oaks, and destroys large numbers of the 

 eggs and young of partridges, pheasants, and grouse, besides 

 those of many other birds, and is looked upon by the lesser 

 members of the feathered tribes as a general marauder and 

 common enemy. It usually builds its nest in a good-sized 

 ash tree, not far away from a farmyard ; in some dense, over- 

 grown hedge, surrounding a plantation ; or in a private park, 

 or other place where it can easily procure provender for its 

 offspring. The nest is somewhat artfully made, but this is 

 only characteristic of the bird. Selecting the fork of a branch, 

 the Magpie interweaves a few sharp thorn twigs round it, and 

 interlaces these with other twigs that are smooth. This forms 

 the outer shell, or skeleton, of the nest, which is first lined 

 with earth or clay, then with layers of fine root fibres, turf, 

 and dry weeds, and lastly with wool, to form a sort of 

 cosy mattress. The bird then roofs and barricades the nest 

 with sharp thorns, leaving only a moderate-sized aperture for 

 ingress and egress. 



The Magpie is an affectionate bird, and very courageous 

 in protecting its young. The parents will venture to 

 attack a cat, or other predatory animal, which may attempt 

 to assail their fortress, and deprive them of their eggs or 

 nestlings. The hen lays from four to seven eggs (the 

 average number is five), of a pale whitish green colour, 

 speckled and marked with numerous black and dusky greyish 

 brown spots and stripes. The young birds, like their parents, 

 have voracious appetites, and seem to devour their food 

 with much relish, especially when such dainties as newly- 

 hatched young birds form the staple diet. The food 

 supplies are various, much depending on the locality in 

 which the domicile is situated. Young frogs, newts, worms, 

 cockchafers, beetles, berries, and even vegetables, are con- 

 sumed by these birds when they are hard pressed for 

 provender. 



As soon as the young are able to fly, the parents entice 



