MAGPIES. 
265 
MAGPIES. 
The magpies, when they have young, destroy th^' broods of 
missel thrushes, though the dams 
are fierce birds, and fight boldly in 
defence of their nests.* It is proba- 
bly to avoid such insults, that this 
species of thrush, though wild at 
other times, delights to build near 
houses, and in frequented walks and 
gardens. ~ Magpie. 
POULTRY. 
Many creatures are endowed with a ready discernment to see 
what will turn to their own advantage and emolument, and often 
discover more sagacity than could be expected. Thus my neigh- 
bour's poultry watch for waggons loaded with wheat, and run- 
ning after them pick up a number of grains which are shaken 
from the sheaves by the agitation of the carriages. Thus, when 
my brother used to take down his gun to shoot sparrows, his 
cats would run out before him, to be ready to catch up the birds 
as they fell. 
The earnest and early propensity of the gallinse to roost on 
high is very observable ; and discovers a strong dread impressed 
on their spirits respecting vermin that may annoy them on the 
ground during the hours of darkness. Hence poultry, if left to 
themselves and not housed, will perch the winter through on 
yew-trees and fir-trees ; and turkeys and guinea fowls, heavy as 
* Of the truth of this I have been an eye-wtness, having seen the common thrush feeding on 
the shell snail. 
In the very early part of this spring (1797) a bird of this species used to sit every morning on 
the top of some high elms close by my windows, and delight me with its charming song, attracted 
thither, probably, by some ripe ivy berries that grew near the place. 
I have remarked something like the latter fact, for 1 rementber, many years ago, seeing a pair 
of these birds fly up repeatedly and attack some larger bird, which I suppose disturbed their nest 
in my orchard, uttering at the same time violent shrieks. Since writing the above, I have seen 
more than once a pair of these" birds attack some magpies that had disturbed their nest, with 
great violence and loud shrieks. — MARKWiCK.t 
t It is indeed quite a common occurrence, but I have reason to believe that the missel thrushes 
not unfrequently betray the site of their nest, in the first instance, by virulently attacking every 
large bird that comes near the place. — Ed. 
