124 
CAGE AND SINGIMG BIRDS. 
bold and familiar, and soon becomes accustomed to tlie care 
and company of man ; it is pert, lively, and amusing', and 
seems to understand readily all that is said to it. With 
speaking powers, perhaps, inferior to those of the pre- 
ceding species, it is more highly prized on account of its ; 
companionable qualities : it will frequently become so tame j 
as to follow his master in his walks, to fetch and carry, j 
and come and go at command. Old birds, when taken, jj 
should have their wings cut, and this operation must be \ 
repeated twice a year, in spring and autumn : after a while, . 
they may be suffered to go at large, and to visit their old 
haunts in the church steeple, or ruined turret, rocky ledge, 
bank, or hollow tree ; to such places, those who want a 
nest of young jackdaws must resort ; they should not be 
taken until nearly fledged, and may be brought up on the 
same kind of food as young ravens. If hung out in a 
wicker cage near their places of birth, the parent birds will 
frequently attend to them until they are old enough to care 
for themselves, when they will soon make friends with the 
cook, and manifest a great desire to learn all about the 
operations of the culinary department of the establish- 
ment. 
THE MAGPIE. 
Who does not know and admire the cunmng magpie, with 
its head constantly awry, prying into the secrets of every 
nook and corner, and purloining whatever it can lay its bill 
upon, especially if it be of a bright and glittering nature ? 
A truly handsome bird is ^' the chattering pie to see him 
in the sunshine, with his rich black and white plumage, 
bronzed with green and purple on the wings, and long tail, j 
sometimes spread out like a fan, is a sight worth looking at. ^ 
If ever we make up our minds to have one of the crow tribe 
as part of our family circle, this will be the bird : but then 
the silver spoons? Alas, that the beautiful should not 
always be the good ! These birds, if taken from the nest 
when quite young, that is, about a fortnight old, and care- 
fully instructed, will imitate the human voice, and almost , 
any other sound. They should be fed at first on bread i 
soaked in milk and water ; afterwards on meat, raw or | 
cooked;, chopped small; and when they liave nearly acquired | 
