334 
CORVIDS. 
thing more on this subject, would be only taking a leaf out of the 
history of a pet magpie, communicated by my friend Dr. Stevelly, 
Professor of Natural Philosophy in Belfast College. He remarks: — 
“ When a boy, I succeeded in rearing a magpie that was taken from 
the nest ; he became much attached to me, and long before he could fly, 
would follow me about with a curious kind of sideling hop, and even 
at this time of life began to show great archness, running after the 
peasant children, who, in the south of Ireland, go for the most part 
without shoes and stockings, and pecking at their bare heels ; and then 
instantly looking up to see if punishment were meditated, of which if 
he saw the least symptom, he would escape with wonderful celerity. 
He became so adroit at length at this amusement, that the children who 
came near the house were much afraid of him ; when his beak became 
stronger, he also attacked dogs in the same manner, but always with 
much and very droll caution. He flew well and strongly before I 
attempted to confine him in the slightest degree, and roamed at large 
round my father’s place ; but when I wished him to come home in the 
evening, one or two loud calls of his name ‘ Jack ’ were sure to bring 
him from some neighbouring high tree on which he perched, to my 
shoulder, which was a very favourite resting-place ; when there, it was 
a common practice of his gently to run his beak between my lips or 
into my ear, with that peculiar motion which pigeons are observed to 
use when they caress each other ; the tickling sensation which this pro- 
cess caused, when my ear was in question, made me always submit with 
difficulty, and I was frequently obliged to withdraw my head suddenly 
with a shudder ; at this he always seemed highly delighted, and used 
to chatter with a guttural sound not unlike Irish words. 
“ The country people in the south of Ireland have a manner of calling 
each other from a distance by bending their fore-finger, putting it into 
then- mouth, and producing a very loud and shrill whistle. This whistle 
c Jack 5 became very expert in imitating, and it was a favourite amuse- 
ment of his, to sit on a very hot day on the top of the house, and if 
he chanced to espy any person at a distance, as, for example, the mar- 
ket-boy riding into town, a whistle from Jack, repeated if necessary, 
was sure to bring him back, however great his hurry, under the im- 
pression that some important commission had been forgotten, or that 
his presence was required at the house or farm-yard ; the length of the 
avenue, and a gentle slope in it at about a quarter of a mile distance 
