THE MAGPIE. 265

logical baboon.” Its mischief is displayed in many ways;
in the wanton destruction of articles and in their crafty
secretion, as well as in the thievish appropriation of edible
dainties. Mr. Wood tells of a Wiltshire magpie which “ found
a malicious enjoyment in pecking the unprotected ankles of
little boys not yet arrived at manly habiliments, and was
such a terror to the female servants that they were forced
to pass his lurking-place armed with a broom. One of the
servants having neglected this precaution, was actually found
sitting down on the stones to protect her ankles, the magpie
triumphantly pacing round her, until aid was brought, and
the bird driven away.”. Mrs. Bowdich quotes the following
from Mr. Ranson: *A magpie, kept by a branch of our
family, was noted for his powers of imitation. He could
whistle tunes, imitate hens and ducks, and speak very plainly.
Seated upon a toll-bar gate, he would shout ‘Gate, ahoy!’
so distinctly, as to draw out the keeper, who was generally
saluted by a loud laugh when he answered the call. When
the keeper’s wife was making pastry, he would practise the
same manceuvre, and if the trick were not detected, and the
woman rushed out to open the gate, the magpie darted into
the house, and speedily made his exit with his bill full of
paste; and he, in great glee, would chatter about it for some
time afterwards. He would perch upon the backs of chairs,
say he was hungry, or inform the juniors of the family it
was time to go to school. He was allowed to run about,
but was never out of mischief, and had a constant propensity
to pilfer and hide small articles.” Of the serious conse-
quences sometimes attending this habit of secreting things, the
following story from Lady Morgan’s “Italy” is a painful
illustration.—“ A noble lady of Florence, resided in a house
which stands still opposite the lofty Doric column which was
raised to commemorate the defeat of Pietro Strozzi, and the
taking of Sienna, by the tyrannic conqueror of both. Cosmo,
‘the First, lost a valuable pearl necklace, and one of her