THE MAGPIE. 
57 
present, it lays up the remainder of the feast for another 
occasion. It will even in a tame state hide its food when 
has done eating, and after a time return to the secret 
board with renewed appetite and vociferation. 
In all its habits it discovers a degree of instinct unusual to 
pther birds. Its nest is not less remarkable for the manner 
)n which it is composed, than for the place the magpie takes 
to build it in. The nest is usually placed conspicuous enough, 
e ‘ther in the middle of some hawthorn bush, or on the top 
pf some high tree. The place, however, is always found dif- 
ficult of access; for the tree pitched upon usually grows in 
some thick hedge-row, fenced by brambles at the root.; or 
sometimes one of the higher bushes is fixed upon for the 
Purpose. When the place is thus chosen as inaccessible as 
possible to men, the next care is to fence the nest above, so 
a ? to defend it from all the various enemies of the air. The 
bite, the crow, and the sparrow-hawk, are to be guarded 
a gainst; as their nests have been sometimes plundered by 
the magpie, so it is reasonably feared that they will take 
the first opportunity to retaliate. To prevent this, the 
magpie’s nestis built with surprising labour and ingenuity. 
Ihe body of the nest is composed of hawthorn branches; 
the thorns sticking outward, but well united together by their 
mutual insertions. Within it is lined with fibrous roots, wool, 
an d long grass, and then nicely plastered all round with mud 
a ud clay. The body of the nest being thus made firm and 
c °uimodious, the next work is to make the canopy which is 
to defend it above. This is composed of the sharpest thorns, 
' V °ven together in such a manner as to deny all entrance ex- 
Ce pt at the door, which is just large enough to permit egress 
and regress to the owners. In this fortress the male and fe- 
male hatch and bring up their brood with security, sheltered 
‘ont all attacks but those of the climbing school-boy, who 
°ften finds his torn and bloodv hands too dear a price for 
the egg S or the young ones. The magpie lays six or seven 
of a pale green colour, spotted with bre 
1'his bird in i(u dnmoKtif state, nreserves i 
own. 
his bird, in its domestic state, preserves its natural dia- 
meter with strict propriety. The same noisy, mischievous 
mbits attend it to the cage that marked it in the woods; and 
being more cunning, so it is a more docile bird than any other 
a ken into keeping. Those who are desirous of teaching it 
to s peak, have a foolish custom of cutting its tongue, which 
0nl y puts the poor animal to pain, without improving its 
s P e ech in the smallest degree. Its speaking is sometimes 
Vfl y distinct ; but its sounds are too thin and sharp to be an 
v °m II. h 
