That same “year Mag ot with the family on a long 
wagon trip to a farm near Heppner, in Oregon. Each day 
as they rested, he was taken out of his box for exercise, but 
he was afraid to go far away. On their arrival at the new 
home, one of his wings was clipped, so that he could be given 
the freedom of the whole ranch. 
By this time he was a beautiful bird, as his ne central | 
tail feathers were almost the length of his body, and his : | 
black plumage showed shiny green, bronze, violet, and purple 
tints that were a brilliant trimming to the white lower parts 
and to the long patch of the same color on the wings. He 
showed that he did not wish to have his plumage touched, 
and would strike out vigorously at anyone who tried to pick — 
him up; although of his own free will he would scramble to | 
the knee or shoulder of his chosen friends. 
His first glimpse of other magpies startled him. Hear- 
ing his ery which meant, “I am scared! Help! Help!” his | 
owner ran into the yard, when he jumped to her shoulder, 
making all sorts of queer little throaty sounds. As he came 
- to her, a flock of magpies circled around them, and then 
_ flew to the fence, where they danced up and down in surprise 
at seeing a bird of their kind prefer a girl to them, while 
Mag trembled at their talk about his actions. 
Once more she wished that she had the power to under- 
stand what other animals were saying, for she felt that 
Mag and she were the subject of their conversation. In 
spite of the fact that he might have been expected to have 
forgotten the language his parents had taught him as a 
nestling, he seemed to understand much that was being said, 
and was not happy until they flew away. It was not long, 
however, after this meeting, before he welcomed the visits 
of this wild flock, and followed them about the yard when- 
ever they came until ae migrated across the Cascades 
Range late that fall. 
He was a perfect imp of mischief, never idle. Anyi 
that was small enough for him to carry off in his bill was not 
164 
