14 
The Emu. 
equipped with wings, make off in myriads to devastate the country 
through which they pass. And in the case of the cockchafer, 
which spends the greater part of its existence as a white grub 
Hving just under the surface of the ground, it can be well under- 
stood how loose soil would not hinder the insect travellinsr 
rapidly and procuring abundant sustenance in the grass rootlets ; 
and thus, when food is plentiful and easily reached, every larva 
will mature. 
But, with the increase of these depredators, it is pleasing to 
notice that the hardier insectivorous birds are on the increase 
also, and for the same reason — the food is plentiful and easily 
secured. 
Who has not watched the Magpie out in the fields in the early 
morning, walking leisurely to and fro, carolling away to himself 
for pure joy ? A step or two and then he stops, for he sees a 
slight ridge, hardly to be noticed above the level of the surround- 
ing soil, but well enough the bird knows the cause of that ridge. 
W^ith one eye he will often contemplate the position, wondering 
perhaps why the sign is so infallible ; then he steps up, and with 
one or two dexterous twists of the bill shovels away the earth 
and brings out a large, tasty grub. 
But if a grasshopper hunt is the order of the day, then the 
Magpie must be more lively ; the young locust just hatched is 
easily picked up, but the older specimen requires some chase. 
A bird, unless an adept in grasshopper chase, is very ungainly. 
The farmyard fowl is very fond of the insect, but in endeavouring 
to catch it many awkward antics are gone through, and if the 
observer were not aware of what the fowl was after he might 
think the bird had taken leave of its senses. But the Magpie 
is much more graceful. The bird darts on the insect before 
the latter is aware of its presence, and very rarely misses its 
prey. The Magpie never gives chase to a locust on the wing, 
preferring to take its food on the ground. In the early morning 
many of the large locusts are sluggishly resting about the grass 
tufts, for it takes the heat of the day to enliven them. They are 
easily captured by the early bird. 
After the morning's meal the Magpies retire to the timber 
to preen their feathers, and rest during the heat of the day. 
Late in the afternoon they are again out in the fields seeking 
the evening meal. The species of Magpie met with in the 
coastal districts chiefly of the south-east is the White-backed 
variety, and inland is found the Black-backed species. The 
former is the larger and more shy, but the latter is the more 
sprightly and energetic, and it is this species that is accused of 
destroying crops by pulling up the young plants. It is said that 
birds have been shot and on dissection the grain itself was found 
in the gizzards ; but this is hard to credit. It is not logical that 
an insectivorous bird should eat grain in any quantity when 
insect life is to be found readily, although, obversely, it is ad- 
