HAWKING AT THE MAGPIE. 
When a magpie is seen at a distance, a hawk is to he imme- j 
diately cast off. The magpie will take refuge in a hush the 
moment he sees the falcon, and will remain there till the falcon 
arrives, with the hawk waiting in the ah*. The magpie is to he 
driven from his retreat, and the hawk, if at a good pitch, will 
stoop at him as he passes to another bush, from whence he is to 
he driven in the same way, another hawk having been previously 
cast off, so that one or the other may always be so situated 
as to attack him to advantage. The second hawk is necessary, 
for the magpie shifts with great cunning and dexterity to avoid 
the stoop ; and when hard pressed, owing to the hushes being 
rather far apart, will pass under the bellies of the horses, 
flutter along a cart -rut, and avail himself of every little 
inequality of the ground in order to escape. Four or five 
assistants besides the falconer, who should attend solely to 
his hawk, are required for this sport. They should be well 
mounted and provided with whips ; for the magpie cannot be 
driven from the bush with a stick ; but the crack of a whip 
will compel him to leave it even when so tired as to be hardly 
able to fly. The magpie will always endeavour to make his 
way to some strong cover ; care, therefore, must be taken to 
counteract him, and to drive him to that part of the ground 
where the bushes are farthest from each other. It is not easy 
to take a magpie in a hedge. Some of the horsemen must be 
on each side of it ; some must ride behind and some before him, 
for unless compelled to rise by being surrounded on all sides, he 
will flutter along the hedge so as to shelter himself from the j 
stoop of the falcon. Many requisites are necessary to afford 
this sport in perfection, — a favourable country, good hawk, 
and able assistants.” 
The Eev. J. Gr. Wood tells a story of a magpie attached to a 
school, and whose love of mischief was often indulged at the ex- 
pense of personal comfort. “The weather had been very cold, seve- 
ral sharp frosts had taken place, and the boys had seized on the 
opportunity to make themselves a good slide. After exercising 
themselves for some time, the hour for school arrived, and they 
were obliged to leave their slide. In order to restore it to its 
original freshness, they poured water over it, so that it would I 
! have plenty of time to freeze before they came out of the school- 
room. The school window opened upon the playground, and 
after a while there arose indignant murmurs among the boys. 
Their master inquired what was the matter. ‘ Look at him, 
sir,’ said the boys ; ‘ he is walking up and down our slide.’ 
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