308 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
opy of the same material above. There is no get- 
ting through this barricade, and the opening is just 
large enough for the owners to pass in and out. 
Here is a picture of this strange nest. 
“And now we will let Mr. Magpie tell his own 
story, remembering that in ornithology he is Corvus 
pica , which will account for the title of ‘ Professor 
Pica’ bestowed upon him here. Nidification, as I 
have told you, is the art of nest-building. 
“ It appears that once upon a time he was the 
acknowledged professor of nidification for the Or- 
nithological University, and to his lectures the other 
birds resorted, in order to take lessons in that sci- 
ence. Professor Pica belonged to the practical and 
experimental school of philosophy, and therefore was 
accustomed to receive his classes among the branches 
of a fine tall pine tree, having previously conveyed 
to his theatre an amply supply of building materials. 
“ There were present at one of these meetings the 
rook, the jackdaw, the blackbird, the thrush, and 
other gentlemen, all professing their willingness to 
learn, but some, I regret to say, rather conceited. 
“ ‘ Now, gentlemen/ said the professor, ‘ you must 
remember that there is a right and wrong way of 
doing everything, and that unless you begin at the 
beginning you will be tolerably certain to manage 
