S.A. NAT., VOL. 3tV. 
Nov. 50tii, 19.) 3. 
.1 Magpie and a Broken Leg. _*9. 
I could not say. The cock bird generally accompanied her on 
these visits. This went on for about five or six weeks—the most 
noticeable point at this time being that the cock bird became far 
more tame, whilst the hen bird was very frightened. 
Then, suddenly, the injured bird stopped coming to the yard 
and we thought that she must have died. After two or three 
davs, however, mv wife noticed that the cock bird would come 
into the yard and proceed to eat about half the meat left there, 
and that he would then pick up the rest until his beak was full 
and then fly away. We at once concluded that his mate was 
still alive, and that he was feeding her. (This was evidently the 
case, as after events show). Following about two weeks of this 
procedure, the hen bird suddenly re-appeared in the yard 
again, and she seemed to be slightly better as she was far more 
cheeky. She took no notice of £he laughing jack, and would go 
right up to where he was perched and take a piece of meat, 
although the jack would pick at her all the time. (The jack 
did not actually pick her, but seemed to be giving her to under¬ 
stand that it was all right while she was sick, but that she was 
not to try and make it a regular thing). 
She seemed very hungry at this period, and that is probably 
why she “stole’’ as well as having the food left for her. Also 
die jack’s meat was always cut up very big, and she could not 
use her feet to tear it it was wonderful how she swallowed it. 
Her broken leg was still hanging, and she was very awkward 
in any movements. In another two or three weeks it was seen 
that she was far more comfortable, and was landing and taking- 
off easily, and was, in fact, better in every way. Watching her 
closely, Mrs. James found that her leg was gone from the break 
downwards—whether it had come off naturally, or if she had 
got it oft herself is, of course, a mystery. Anyhow, it was gone, 
and she was certainly a different bird. She became more tame, 
and was in the yard three or four times a day, and always 
looking for meat. In fact, Mrs. James started feeding her two 
or three times a day, and she took it every time. Early in the 
morning she and her mate would advertise that they were ready 
loi breakfast by singing a song from the clothes line arm, and 
at night she would be there again—but not always accompanied 
hy her mate. 1 hen, of course, there was morning and afternoon 
lunch. As the cock bird came only about once a day we 
concluded that he liked his natural food, which she, handicapped 
as she was, could not get. The lady seems quite at home now, 
and will probably live to bring up more families. 
