OUR HOME BIRDS. 
281 
confinement he displays many of the traits which 
distinguish his relative the magpie. One that was 
brought up in a family at the South ‘had all the 
tricks and loquacity of a parrot ; pilfered everything 
he could conveniently carry off, and hid them in 
holes and crevices ; answered to his name with great 
sociability when called on ; could articulate a num- 
ber of words pretty distinctly ; and when he heard 
an uncommon noise or loud talking seemed impatient 
to contribute his share to the general festivity — as he 
probably thought it — by a display of all the oratori- 
cal powers he was possessed of.’ 
“ He is represented as not only bold and vociferous, 
but possessing quite a talent for mimicry, which some- 
times gets him into trouble ; as ‘ he seems to enjoy 
great satisfaction in mocking and teasing other birds, 
particularly the little hawk, imitating his cry when- 
ever he sees him, and squealing out as if caught ; this 
soon brings a number of his own tribe around him, 
who all join in the frolic, darting about the hawk, 
and feigning the cries of a bird sorely wounded and 
already under the clutches of its devourer, while 
others lie concealed in bushes, ready to second their 
associates in the attack. But this ludicrous farce 
often terminates tragically. The hawk, singling out 
one of the most insolent and provoking, sweeps upon 
him in an unguarded moment, and offers him up a 
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