204 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

speedy retreat. The blue jay is not only bold and vociferous,
but possesses a considerable talent for mimicry, and seems
to enjoy great satisfaction in mocking and teasing other birds,
particularly the little hawk, imitating his cry whenever he
sees him, and squeaking out as if caught; this soon brings
a number of his own tribe around him, who all join in the
frolic, darting about the hawk, and feigning the cries of a
bird sorely wounded, and already in the clutches of its
devourer; while others lie concealed in bushes, ready to
second their associates in the attack. But this ludicrous farce
often terminates tragically. The hawk, singling out one of
the most insolent and provoking, swoops upon him in an
unguarded moment, and offers him up a sacrifice to his
hunger and resentment. In an instant the tune is changed,
all their buffoonery vanishes, and loud and incessant screams
proclaim their disaster. Whenever the jay has had the
advantage of education from man, he has not only shown
himself an apt scholar, but his suavity of manners seems
equalled only by his art and contrivances, though it must
be confessed that his itch for thieving keeps pace with all
his other acquirements.”
_ The The Magpie is an ancient bird and is men-
Magpie. tioned by Plutarch and other early writers. It
is indigenous in England and shows great industry and in-
genuity in the construction of its nest, which it lines with
mud plaster and covers with thorns, building upon high
trees and in secluded spots. It feeds upon both animal and
vegetable food, attacking birds, young ducks and chickens,
as well as mice and even rats, and regaling itself on both
fruit and grain. It attains to a length of about eighteen
inches and is a handsome bird, though captivity does not
improve its appearance.
The Magpie’s The mischievous habits of the magpie have
Mischief. won for it the name of “the Monkey of the
Birds,” the Raven as Mr. Wood puts it being “the ornitho-