give him a drink of water, and later milk, out of a ‘teaspoon: 
-and he soon learned to open his mouth and tease when he 
saw the glass and spoon. It took him months to know — 
that water could be had unless he used the spoon. He would 
dip his head down and grasp the spoon between the parts 
of his bill and suck until his mouth was full, then throw his 
head high and let the water run down his throat, very much — ’ 
as a chicken does. 
| He found out that either the Chinese mee or his young 
mistress would always feed him if he made enough noise in 
asking for something to eat, and, after a few days he would — ’ 
take food from no one else. His sleeping box was keptina 
woodshed, but he was allowed to wander about the large 
yard as he wished, and he soon learned to come when his 
name was called, or when anyone whistled for him. 
His appearance was quite different from that of erown- 
up magpies at this time: for his bill had not lost all of the — 
yellowish edges belonging to babyhood, and seemed too big 
for his head; his tail was short, and he still carried patches. q 
of dusky down, instead of being clothed with shining, black 
and white feathers. The handling he received did not 
- improve his appearance, but his big appetite made him grow | 
go rapidly that he soon lost his baby ways and showed that 
he thought he was the owner of the yard. 
A number of young people played croquet in the 
grounds and Mag seemed to think that he must always 
take part in the game. He would stand watching, his black — | 
eyes snapping, his big head twisting, as he jumped up and © 
down, and chattered his opinion about the good and bad . | 
strokes. Sometimes he ran after the ball and appeared to 
make remarks about its position. Often he had to be made 
to stand aside at a critical shot, for fear of his dashing 
under the mallet. 
One of the men of the sore wore rae cointed shoes, 
with toes that turned up, and several times when Mag had 
been called to eat during the game, the bird would come back 
162 
