BRITISH BIRDS. 
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lhaped; the under tail coverts, thighs, and legs 
are black ; on the throat and part of the neck there 
is a kind of feathers, mixed with the others, re- 
fembling ftrong whitifh hairs. This beautiful bird 
is every where very common in England ; it is 
likewife found in various parts of the Continent, 
but not fo far north as Lapland, nor farther fouth 
than Italy: It is met with in America, but not 
commonly, and is migratory there : It feeds, like 
the Crow, on almoft every thing animal as well as 
vegetable. The female builds her nelt with great 
art, leaving a hole in the fide for her admittance, 
and covering the whole upper part with a texture 
of thorny branches, clofely entangled, thereby fecu- 
ring her retreat from the rude attacks of other 
birds ; but it is not fafety alone fhe confults, the 
infide is fumilhed with a fort of mattrafs compofed 
of wool and other foft materials, on which her 
young repofe : She lays feven or eight eggs, of a 
pale green colour, fpotted with black. 
The Magpie is crafty and familiar, and may be 
taught to pronounce words and even fhort fenten- 
ces, and will imitate any particular noife which it 
hears. It is addi&ed, like other birds of its kind, 
to Healing, and will hoard up its provifions. It is 
fmaller than the Jackdaw, and its wings are fhort- 
er in proportion ; accordingly its flight is not fo 
lofty, nor fo well fupported : It never undertakes 
diftant journies, but flies only from tree to tree, at 
moderate diflances. 
