MAG 
MAG 
by the fame kind of fulcus that divides one 
anulation from another. In fome ftages of the 
creature's exifcence we may perceive two fhort 
horns protruded from the head, but two brown 
fcaly hooks are more commonly obfervable; 
thefe, however, are fometimes concealed, by be- 
ing retrafted into a fheath with which the infe6l 
is furniflied: thefe hooks are bent into an arch, 
the concavity of which is toward the plane of the 
animal's pofition ; and they are thickeft at their 
infertion into the head, diminifhing gradually 
till they terminate in a fine fharp point. 
The hooks being placed in a parallel direc- 
tion, cannot pofTibly unite, and therefore are in- 
capable of ferving as teeth to comminute the 
Maggot's food; but they aflift in pulling it to 
pieces, and thereby render it of a proper fize to 
be received by the mouth. 
Befides thefe two hooks, this infed has a kind 
of dart, about a third part of their length, and 
placed at an equal dillance between them. Tnis 
is alfo of the fame colour and confiileDce wit!i 
the former": it is perfectly ftraight, and termi- 
nates in a fine point. The hooks appear iliarply 
pointed; and this dart feems defigned, by re- 
iterated ftrokesj to divide the pieces of flefh thefe 
have feparated from the mafs into fm.aller parts. 
Exaitly below the apertures for the egrefs of the 
hooks, the mouth of the animal is placed, v/hich 
is feldom vifible unlefs prefTed; but if the pref- 
fure be properly managed, the opening will im- 
mediately become perceptible; and within it ap- 
pears a fmall protuberance, which is probably 
either the tongue or the fucker of the animal. 
The back of the Maggot lov/ers itfelf by de- 
grees as it approaches the extremity of the belly ; 
and near the place where the back begins to fink, 
are placed the two principal organs of refpiration : 
thefe appear externally like two roundilh brown 
fpots, very eafily difcinguifliable by the naked eye, 
the reft of the body being wholly white; but, 
with the affiftance of glaflTes, each of thefe fpots 
appears to be a brown circular eminence, a little 
elevated above the reft of the body. On each of 
thefe fpots three oblong oval cavities may alfo be 
obferved, fituated in a parallel direftion to each 
other, and their length nearly in a perpendicular 
direftion to that of the body of the animal. Thefe 
apertures are fo many ftigmata, or air-holes, def- 
tined to admit the air necefiTary for the life of the 
infe£t: they are fix in number, three on each fide 
of the body. 
The body of the Maggot being ftrongly tran- 
fparent, an opportunity is thereby afforded of ob- 
ferving that a large white vefl^el runs the whole 
length of it. The courfe of thefe vefi^els may be 
eafily traced the whole length of the animals; but 
towards the hinder part they are moft diftind, and 
are always obferved to terminate in the brown 
ipots previoudy mentioned; which leaves little 
room to doubt that they are the principal trachese. 
Thefe pofterior trachese have been accurately re- 
marked by feveral naturalifts. But befides thefe, 
there are two others, which feem to have been 
very imperfedlly known : they are fituated in the 
anterior part of the animal, and may be difco- 
vered by following the direftion of the trachea 
on each fide; for though thefe diminifh their dia- 
meters as they approach the head of the animal, 
the place of their termination may be eafily feen, 
which is in the junction of the fecond and third 
.ring. In this place the naked eye difcovers a fmall 
Vol. II. 
fpot at the extremity of each; which, viewed witn 
a microfcope, appears to be a plain ftigma, femi- 
funnellated, and elegantly indented, as if fringed 
at the edges. Thefe ftigmata in the anterior part 
of the body are as uniform and conftant in the 
Maggot as the poPcerior ones : but it feems deftitute 
of thofe which the caterpillar tribe are fijpplied with 
along their fides; though, from the ftrud'ture of 
the fly which has thefe ftigmata, it is pnibable 
they are only concealed in the nafcent infe£l. 
The ramifications of the two great trachefe ap^ 
pear very beautiful in this creature, efpecially on 
it's belly; but no vefl"ei analogous to the great ar- 
tery in the caterpillar clafs can be traced in it, 
though it's great tranfparence would render it eafily 
diftinguifhable. 
MAGNANINE. A finall bird defcribed by 
Aid rovandus, Gefner, and fome other authors: it 
feems to correfpond with our hedge-fparrow, com- 
monly known among naturalifts by the nanie of 
curruca. 
MAGFYE; the Corvu5 Pica of Linnaeus. A 
well known and beautiful bird of the corvus kind. 
It's black, it's white, it's green and purple, with 
the rich and gilded variegations of it's tail, are 
as fine as any that adorn the moft charming of the 
feathered tribe. But it has too many afi^efted qua- 
lities to depreciate thefe natural perfeftions : vain, 
reftlefs, loud, and quarrelfome, it is every where 
an unwelcomie intruder; and miffes no opportu- 
nity of doing rnifchief. 
The bill of the Magpye bears a great refem- 
blance to that of the butcher-bird, having a fliarp 
proccfs near the end of the upper mandable. It 
likewife refembles that bird in the fiiortnefs of 
it's wings, and the form of it's tail, each feather 
ftiortening from the two middlemoft. But it 
agrees ftill more in it's food, living not only on 
worms and infeds, but alfo on linall birds, when 
it can feize them. A wounded lark, or a young 
chicken feparated from the hen, are fure plunder"; 
and the Magpye will even fometimes fet iipon and 
ftrike a blackbird. The fame infolence prompts 
it to teaze the largeft animals when it's petulance 
can be fecure from punifnment. It is often feen 
perched on the back of an ox or a fheep, peck- 
ing up the infefts found there, chattering, tor- 
menting the poor animal, and ftretchiug out it's 
neck for combat if the creature offers to turn it's 
head backward in a menacing manner. It alfo 
explores the nefts of birds; and if the dame 
efcapes, the eggs or the neftlings make up for 
the deficiency. The thrufti and the blackbird are 
frequently plundered by this petty affaffin; and to 
this caufe miay in a great meafure be afcribed the 
fcarcity of their fpecies. No food feems to come 
amilii to this bird : it participates with ravens in 
their carrion, with rooks in their grain, and with 
the cuckow in birds eggs. But it feems adluated 
by a providence feldom ufual with gluttons; for 
when it is fatisfied for the prefent, it faves the re- 
mainder of the feaft for fome future occafion. In 
a tame ftate, it will even hide it's food when it 
has done eating; and, after a time, it will return 
to the fecret hoard with renewed appetite and vo- 
ciferation. 
Indeed, all the habits of the Magpye difcover 
a degree of inftind unufual to other birds. It's 
neft is not lefs remarkable for the manner in 
which it is compofed', than for the place felefted 
for that purpofe : it is ufually placed confpicuous 
enough, either in the middle of a hawthorn bufji. 
1 
