57 
been supposed thai there are two species, 
which have sometimes been denominated 
the Tree-Mag and the Hedge Mag, The 
female builds her nest with great art, 
leaving a hole in the side thereof for her 
admittance, and covering the whole upper 
part with a texture of thorny branches, 
closely entangled, thereby securing her 
retreat from the rude attacks of other birds. 
But it is not safety alone she consults, for 
the inside is furnished with an excellent 
sort of mattress plaistered with earth, and 
lined with wool, and other soft materials, 
on which her young repose. She lays six 
or seven eggs early in the spring, of a 
yellowish white colour, spotted with brown 
and cinereous. Latham describes them 
to be of a greenish tinge, thickly spotted 
with black. 
These birds generally continue in pairs 
the whole year, but during the winter, 
assemble sometimes in great numbers. 
It is an artful, clamorous bird. Neither 
the fox or other wild animals can appear 
without being noticed; even the fowler is 
frequently spoiled of his sport, for the 
I 
