224 A DESCRIPTION OF 
first attempt, it perfectly imitated all their repetitions, 
stops, and changes. This new lesson, however, made it 
entirely forget everything that it had learned before. 
The Magpie feeds on everything ; worms, insects, meat, 
and cheese, bread and milk, all kinds of seeds; and also 
on small birds, when they come in its way : the young of 
the blackbird, and of the thrush, and even a strayed 
chicken, often fall a prey to its rapacity. It is fond of 
hiding pieces of money or wearing apparel, which it car- 
ries away by stealth, and with much dexterity, to its hole. 
Its cunning is also remarked in the manner of making its 
nest, which it covers all over with hawthorn branches, 
the thorns sticking outward ; within it is lined with fibrous 
roots, wool, and long grass, and then plastered all round 
with mud and clay. The canopy above is composed of 
the sharpest thorns, wove together in such a manner as to 
deny all entrance except at the door, which is just large 
enough to permit egress and regress to the owners. In 
this fortress the birds bring up their brood with security, 
safe from all attacks, but those of the climbing schoolboy, 
who often finds his torn and bloody hands too dear a price 
for the eggs or the young ones. 
There are many superstitions respecting Magpies ; and 
it is singular that in all the southern and middle districts 
of England, two Magpies are thought to betoken good 
luck ; while in Lancashire, and other northern counties, 
it is thought very unlucky to see two Magpies together. 
The chattering of Magpies was formerly supposed to fore- 
tell the arrival of strangers. 
