The Magpie: Outlines for Scout Workers

THE MAGPIE Outlines for Scout Workers BY MRS. LUCY G. SMITH AND D. W. PARRATT ///. The Magpie "Among the Romans not a bird Without a prophecy was found; Fortunes of empires often hung On the magician magpie's tongue." 1. Why is the magpie so named? 2. To what family does it belong? What other birds belong to this family and in what way does the magpie differ from these? There are two kinds of magpies in western America. What are they? Where found? Which is ours? 3. Note size, shape, and color. 4. Contrast male and female in size and in color and explain these differences. 5. Upon what does the magpie live? In what way does the bill indicate this? ... . . , , 6. Describe the flight of the magpie in relation to height, speed, and lines. . 7. What animals are its enemies and how does it protect itselt against them? 8 Is the nest large or is it small? How made When built? How does it differ from the nests of the other birds thus far studied? 9. How many eggs make a setting? What is their color and how are they marked? How many broods in one season?

10. Describe the call of the magpie and tell of what use the call is to the bird. 11. Give one reason why this bird should be protected and one why it should not be protected. 12. Where does it spend the winter? The summer? 13. It is sometimes suggested that a slit be cut in a captured mag- pie's tongue. For what purpose? When is the best time to so train the bird? Why then? HANDY MATERIAL "Mag" was originally Maggie, and the name, therefore, given to this bird was Maggie Pie. In the course of time only the first syllable was used, and later that was joined to the surname, so that now the bird is known as simply "magpie" without even the capital M in "mag." It is also interesting to note that "pie" is derived from the Latin pica, meaning mimic, and was applied to the bird under consideration because of its propensity to imitate simple sounds repeatedly made in its presence. The magpies belong to the crow family, as do also the rooks, ravens, and jack-daws. These latter birds are practically all black, while the magpie has vivid white markings principally on the wings and under side of the body. There are two species of magpies in our country, the black-billed and the yellow- billed. The former is the one common to our regions ; the latter is found only in California. The magpie is from eighteen to twenty inches in length and has a rather slender body. Its wings are short and small, but very stout. Its head, back, upper breast, and the larger part of its wings are black, while the upper part of its wings and the lower breast are white. The tail is the magpie's greatest orna- ment. It is longer than the bird's body and is beautifully colored with green and purple and, when used to steer "Maggie's" un- certain flight, opens into a perfectly shaped fan. The magpie's eyes are black, its hearing very acute, and its nostrils and bill are covered almost half way down with reversed feathers or bristles. Like most other birds, the male magpie is larger and more highly colored than is the female'; however, these differences are not so pronounced as in the case of other birds thus far studied. The female reserves the right of choosing her mate. To win her coveted attentions, the males groom in their best and most attrac- tive feathers and to reduce competition the jealous rivals strive to drive each other from the field. The fellow having the most charming manners, beautiful feathers, and who puts up the best fight is the one who succeeds in winning "the fair lady." Bright colors and additional size are, therefore, advantageous to the male birds.

The magpie is a carrion feeder by preference but an insect feeder by necessity. He also eats greei. leaves, wild fruit and berries, and young birds and eggs. The bill is strong and sharp, capable of tearing flesh, breaking the hardest snail-shells, or car- rying off eggs. "In the sparsely settled districts of the West, where dead sheep are poisoned as bait for coyotes, the magpies are becom- ing quite scarce from their habit of eating carrion of any kind." The coyote, ever ready to destroy almost any sort of bird, is a perpetual enemy of the magpie. The discovered approach of a coyote or other enemy is signaled by one of the birds evidently doing sentinel duty. A characteristic cry from him is all that is needed to put the whole flock to flight. Snakes, too, are num- bered among the magpie's enemies. These steal their way into the bird's nest and destroy eggs and young. To guard against coyotes, snakes, and other ground enemies, the magpie builds its nest on slender limbs some distance above the ground. The nest is so constructed as to ward off hawks, owls, and other enemies of the air. The nest is large, and looks like a huge bundle of sticks loosely put together, notwithstanding the fact that the magpie is' really a master builder. The nest consists of a layer of sticks, then a layer of clay binding them together, then sticks and clay, and so on for several layers. In these he forms a deep, cup-like hol- low of thinner twigs and soft, rootlets and lines it with grass and wool. This can be reached only through an opening just large enough to admit the bird. The entrance on the outside is fenced with sharp thorns. Over all is a dome of interlacing sticks, not to keep out the rain, but to protect the nest from larger birds which may wish to steal the eggs or take possession of the nest. Although the nest will last for years, the magpie seldom ever uses it for more than one season. A clump of small canyon trees seems to be the magpie's fa- vorite place for building. The nest is usually from ten to twenty feet above the ground, just where the branches are thickest. There are from three to seven eggs, pale green or light gray in color, evenly speckled with brown. There are two broods in one season. The flight of the magpie is short, uncertain, wavering, but moderately rapid, and never at any great height. The magpie's chatter of short, quick notes is hard, non- musical and incessant. During March, April and May, the magpie steals eggs and nestlings. He will even come into the poultry yard and eat hen's eggs. But during the remainder of the year, he does no harm, but much good, eating insects. He is wonderfully keen witted, cheery, and adds much of interest and beauty to the landscape.

He usually spends both winter and summer here, but often in summer he goes far up into the arctic regions. If taken before he is two years old, he can be taught to talk, but does not need to have his tongue slit. He often talks more clearly than a parrot and seems to love the words he has picked up, for he will practice them until he can say them with a degree of perfection. And furthermore, he manifests marked delight if a forgotten word happens to be again spoken in his presence. References — "Bird Life and Bird Lore," R. Bosworth Smith; "The Romance of Bird Life," John Lea; "The Magpie's Lesson," Aldine Reader II; "Juvenile Instructor," March, 1914. Good-Bye, Old Booze Good-bye, old Booze, it's time for us to part ; For you are greedy, vain, and have no heart. I will admit the blame's not yours, old Booze ; For I was free and had a right to choose — I thought it game to lose. Recall the day when you and I first met, When I was but a kid ? You can't forget. I told you I would try once, old Smell, To win a bet, if not a soul would tell — You whispered, "More." O — well ! And then, when I did proudly join the "gang" That lined the bar, and "chewed the rag," and sang, You bragged, you boasted, strutted forth and said That you would be on earth when we were dead — ■ You spoke the truth : well said ! And you remember — can't forget — old Sin, When you first put it in my head to win Success by chance, "Play on and on," you cried, Till all was lost, and poverty, my bride ; — Deceitful wretch, you lied ! Though you've been known to vanquish, oft, a pain, I'll sacrifice the belly for the brain ; And even if you make us think we're "smart," You can't bring love into the human heart — So you and I must part. KANAB, UTAH JACK BORLASE.