90 
THE CONDOR 
Yol. XI 
hoping that eight little owls would later emerge from that dark cavity and thus 
augment the bird population of that section? Nay, verily, for I have the eight, 
now pearly and shiny and clean, where they can do much more good than as well 
developed and mature owls. To the man with a hobby, a set of eggs in the cabi- 
net is worth more than a flock of birds in the bush. 
And now you have two very easy solutions of the proposed problem — a prob- 
lem in indeterminates, and hence capable of many answers. 
Lewistorun , Montana. 
THE USE OF MAGPIES’ NESTS BY OTHER BIRDS 
By ROBERT B. ROCKWELL 
WITH ONE PHOTO BY THE AUTHOR 
M UCH has been said (and much has been left unsaid) regarding the mani- 
fold depredations of the Black-billed Magpie {Pica fiica tmdsonia ) , and 
these incriminating utterances are built on a firm foundation of truth. It 
is consequently with a sense of relief that we are able to turn our attention to a 
topic in which this interesting bird does not play the role of heavy villain, and 
particularly in view of the fact that in this instance he appears as the benefaetor 
of the other birds, a condition of affairs diametrically opposed to his normal 
attitude. 
It is in the construction of a fairly permanent place of refuge for many species 
of birds that the magpie does much toward counter-balancing his many bad habits, 
and predatory tendencies. The great heavy nests, so beautifully cupt and lined 
inside, so wonderfully domed over and walled up outside, and withal so remarkably 
constructed as to withstand the ravages of the elements for years, constitute a 
veritable bird palace for a number of species whose natural ability as architects is a 
negligible quantity. 
As a haven of safety during sudden storms or unlookt-for spells of severe 
weather, there are indeed few species of perching birds that do not find in the 
abundant abandoned magpie's nests an important addition to the many protected 
safety stations a wise Nature provides for her feathered children. During severe 
rain or hail-storms robins, blackbirds, bluebirds, warblers, and in fact all those 
species that frequent the timbered creek-bottoms in the territory where the magpie 
is common, make frequent use of these great nests. 
A few species utilize the abandoned nests continuously, but these birds are 
necessarily few in number, as they are birds that restrict themselves to a given 
locality. To this class belong the Western Horned Owl, the Eong-eared Owl and 
the Rocky Mountain Screech Owl, the two former of which spend nearly their 
entire time during the day in these welcome retreats, while the latter species makes 
frequent use of them when not occupying a cavity in a tree. It is a rather amus- 
ing spectacle to see a round, fluffy little screech owl (dislodged from his cosy cor- 
ner in a hollow tree) making desperate efforts to reach the nearest magpie nest 
before the noisy throng of mischief-loving magpies overtakes him, and even more 
comical to see the plain look of disappointment and incredulity upon the “coun- 
tenances” of the pursuers, as the owl reaches the welcome refuge and instantly 
merges himself into his surroundings; for strange as it may seem magpies will not 
