PLATE XXV. 
- The Magpk 
Is one of our mofl: common birds, and is by many fuppofed to be only black and white, which is 
erroneous, as they (hew the moft brilliant purple, blue, and green, like that difplayed in the neck 
of our Pheafant. The Magpie is a mifchievous and deftruftive bird, for when they become fami- 
liar and are at liberty, they will pick up every thing that is in their power to carry, and depofit in 
fome fecret place, whither they will put every article if there be an hundred. They are extremely 
attentive to obferve if they are noticed whllft thus employed, and have couched, under a feeming 
difregard, a watchful eye, for fear of being difcovered; the pleafure to them appears to be the doing 
of it flyly; and with refpeft to their deftruaive qualities, a Hen or Duck cannot lit m peace where 
one of thefe birds inhabit, for they will encounter with either, and never leave them until they 
have accomplifhed their defign of ftealing the eggs or chicks, and by thefe means they will deftroy 
whole broods if not timely prevented. They are a bird of all others that will excel in talking if 
taught early. There are two forts of thefe birds, the larger and fmaller ; the one here given is the 
larger fort, but is reduced for the conveniency of bringing it into the plate ; the original meafures 
nineteen inches from the point of the bill to the tip of the tail, and ten inches and an half round the 
breaft. Thefe build in trees, the fmaller fort in hedges; their neft is compofed of rugged thorny 
fticks, arched over the top, but not fo clofely as to repel the weather ; it is lined with cow-hair and 
wool, which I have obferved them colleaing from the backs of the cows and flieep. They lay 
feven eggs. Another particular in which they differ from other birds is, that they have a Ibrt of 
kell or fkin which they caft from under their eyelid over the eye at pleafure. 
No. IX. 
T 
