often so far gregarious as to roost in considerable numbers at particular groves, near their feeding-ground, to which they resort in straggling flocks: I have thus reckoned twenty-six on wing together, when the distance between the first and last, was like that of an ill-matched pack of hounds during the chace. November the 20th, 1838, was a dull, dark, true November day throughout, and so early as half-past two o'clock, P.M., I saw about twenty of these birds that had evidently retired to roost for the night. On being alarmed they flew from a fine old willow on the banks of the Lagan, and looked very beautiful as they rose together.

Magpies are very generally persecuted with us on account of their evil propensities. One friend complains that his garden has suffered much from their depredations on cherries and other fruit; another, that the eggs of game, &c., are greatly destroyed by them: -their propensity for eggs is taken advantage of for their destruction, and they become victims to the trap baited with those of our domestic fowl. Grain, too, they certainly consume, but their numbers are not anywhere so great as to do much injury to it. That they do considerable good, I have had positive evidence from an examination of the contents of their stomachs (supplied me by bird-preservers) at various times, but particularly in winter; when almost every one contained insects (chiefly Coleoptera), or the remains of mice and slugs, (the internal shell of these, constituting the genus Limacellus, Brard., only remaining), mixed with which occasionally appeared oats and other grain. In winter, the magpie, as well as others of the Corvida, is of great service to the public, by resorting in numbers to such meadows as are manured with the offensive refuse of the slaughter-house, and feeding on the titbits. On the 1st of Sept., 1847, I was interested in observing one of these handsome birds perched on a tall rowan or mountainash tree, close to Holywood House, picking off and eating the ripe scarlet berries, as eagerly as any of the thrush genus could have done.

* Since writing my account of the magpie, I find that this and several other particulars noticed are treated of by Mr. Waterton, in his Essays on Natural History. His description of the bird throughout is excellent.

On mentioning the circumstance to my friends resident there, they remarked, that in former years several of these birds were seen perched at the same time in this tree, when the berries were ripe, though no attention was given to whether they were feeding on them or not; judging from what I observed, they doubtless

were so.

By the late George Matthews, Esq., I was informed, that a trustworthy warrener at Springvale, county of Down (the seat of his grandfather, Major Matthews), assured him, that he once saw a magpie fly some distance out to sea with a stoat or weasel fastened to it, when he with some other men launched a boat, and followed to observe the issue. They found the magpie lying dead upon the water. The quadruped had disappeared, and as they conjectured, had been drowned; but Mr. Matthews thought it might have made its way ashore, as he had often seen these animals swim admirably. Montagu, in the Supplement to his Ornithological Dictionary, mentions his having been witness to a weasel killing a carrion crow on the ground, the latter being in the first instance the aggressor.

Once, in the month of May, when driving between Larne and Glenarm, I was surprised to observe a lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) hovering very low over, and making a stoop at a ditch-bank near the road. On looking attentively, however, a magpie was discovered changing its position from whatever side of the bush the gull hovered over, to the other side. After a short time, the gull took its departure, and then the magpie flew along the bank with some whitish-coloured object in its bill. The gull returned and played the same part over again, as the magpie likewise did; the object of the latter, from the commencement, being evidently to conceal itself from the gull's observation. On seeing the food in the magpie's bill, I had no doubt of its being the gull's prey, which having been accidentally dropped, was carried off by the magpie, whose thievish cunning it was amusing to witness, though I pitied the honest sea-bird, for being thus gulled.

Magpies are so bold, as apparently, through mere wantonness, to persecute birds that would seem to be more than a match for

them: the beautiful kestrel or windhover they occasionally annoy. Towards the peregrine falcon they dare hardly show any impertinence, but the curiosity which I once saw exhibited by a pair of them towards a bird of this species, was highly amusing. A trained falcon at Fort William, near Belfast, on being given its liberty, alighted, after taking a few circuits through the air, in a small tree, where first one, and then another magpie, likewise perched, without exhibiting the least fear, and with the intention only, to all appearance, of examining it more closely. They gradually approached until almost touching the hawk; one indeed seemed to strike it, immediately after which, they both flew to a tree close by, and commenced an incessant chattering. This was continued so earnestly for some time, that it could be nothing less than a discussion upon the merits of the strange bird. When in the tree with the hawk, they maintained a respectful silence. At the same place, a tame magpie and a sheep of a peculiar variety, whose fleece hung nearly to the ground, were great friends, and generally associated together. The favourite perch of the bird was on the back of the sheep, which animal became innocently a receiver of stolen goods, as the magpie concealed his pilferings in the thick wool of its body. It sometimes hopped after the sheep, biting at its legs; and, through mischief, or a natural carnivorous propensity, was very partial to pecking at the bare heels of beggars who came about the house, very much, as may be supposed, to their annoyance. Here, also, two magpies were proficients in talking. One, without any teaching, learnt all the phrases of a parrot kept in a neighbouring cage.* The other was taught several words and short sentences, by their being repeated to it by its master; the most comical perhaps of which was "pretty-poll," as passing strangers, on hearing the well-known words, turned round to look at the parrot, and saw only impudent "mag" instead. But any

It would seem that, in a wild state also, either this species, or a nearly allied one, will imitate the notes of other birds. Mr. Nuttall, who, from a knowledge of the bird both in Europe and America, considers the common magpie of the two continents identical, remarks:-"I one day observed a small flock, and among the fraternity heard one chattering familiarly in the varied tone of the cat-bird, as he sat on a bough by the water, where birds might become his prey."-Audubon's Ornithological Biography, vol. iv. p. 409.

thing more on this subject, would be only taking a leaf out of the history of a pet magpie, communicated by my friend Dr. Stevelly, Professor of Natural Philosophy in Belfast College. He remarks:

"When a boy, I succeeded in rearing a magpie that was taken from the nest; he became much attached to me, and long before he could fly, would follow me about with a curious kind of sideling hop, and even at this time of life began to show great archness, running after the peasant children, who, in the south of Ireland, go for the most part without shoes and stockings, and pecking at their bare heels; and then instantly looking up to see if punishment were meditated, of which if he saw the least symptom, he would escape with wonderful celerity. He became so adroit at length at this amusement, that the children who came near the house were much afraid of him; when his beak became stronger, he also attacked dogs in the same manner, but always with much and very droll caution. He flew well and strongly before I attempted to confine him in the slightest degree, and roamed at large round my father's place; but when I wished him to come home in the evening, one or two loud calls of his name 'Jack' were sure to bring him from some neighbouring high tree on which he perched, to my shoulder, which was a very favourite resting-place; when there, it was a common practice of his gently to run his beak between my lips or into my ear, with that peculiar motion which pigeons are observed to use when they caress each other; the tickling sensation which this process caused, when my ear was in question, made me always submit with difficulty, and I was frequently obliged to withdraw my head suddenly with a shudder; at this he always seemed highly delighted, and used to chatter with a guttural sound not unlike Irish words.

"The country people in the south of Ireland have a manner of calling each other from a distance by bending their fore-finger, putting it into their mouth, and producing a very loud and shrill whistle. This whistle 'Jack' became very expert in imitating, and it was a favourite amusement of his, to sit on a very hot day on the top of the house, and if he chanced to espy any person at a distance, as, for example, the market-boy riding into town, a whistle from Jack, repeated if necessary, was sure to bring him back, however great his hurry, under the impression that some important commission had been forgotten, or that his presence was required at the house or farm-yard; the length of the avenue, and a gentle slope in it at about a quarter of a mile distance

from the house, rendered this trick very easy to be practised, and he seemed to take great delight in it when successful, and many a hearty curse he received from the wearied subject of his practical joke, as soon as he had discovered the individual, who had so importunately called him back.

"He was particularly fond of any shining article, such as spoons and trinkets; these he frequently stole, and we came upon his treasurehouse in a laughable way. There was an old gentleman, a great friend of my father, who resided with us almost continually. He was of a peculiarly studious disposition, but from a deformity in his person used generally to read standing, with his arms and breast resting on the back of a chair, and the book placed on a table before him; after having read for a while, it was his habit to take off his spectacles, lay them beside him, blow his nose, take a pinch of snuff, and after a few moments, pondering what he had been reading, resume the spectacles and proceed. One very warm day, I lay reading at the end of a room, in which there was an open glass door leading to the greenhouse; in this room the old gentleman was most intently pursuing his studies at a little distance from me. My attention was soon arrested by seeing the magpie perched upon the chair near him, eyeing him most intently and with a very arch expression, and at length, in an instant, he had with a most active hop touched the table, secured the red leather spectaclecase, and was out of the glass door with the most noiseless wing and with a very graceful motion. I remained quiet, resolved to see the end of the joke; after a few seconds' absence, 'Jack' was again at his post, eyeing the old gentleman with a most inquisitive and yet business-like glance; it was nearly impossible to resist the ludicrous impression produced by the entire scene: at length off came the spectacles, and out came the pocket-handkerchief and snuff-box; quick as thought Jack had invaded the table, and was out of the open door with the prize, which I have no doubt had from the beginning been the object of his covetous admiration, while they were on the nose of the old gentleman. This time the magpie did not return, either because he found it more difficult to reach his storehouse with the spectacles than with the case, or because, having gained the object of his ambition, he conceived his presence no longer necessary. At length the period of rumination having elapsed, the old gentleman set about replacing the spectacles; as soon as his surprise had abated at not finding them with his hands