MAGPIE or PIE, a bird once abundant throughout Great Britain, but now much scarcer, though since the World War its numbers have increased. It did not reach Ireland until the 17th century, but is now common enough in that country. This species is extending its range where not molested.
In Norway, the magpie is very tame, nesting in the gardens even of town houses, but in Britain persecution has made it shy, and most people know it only as a captive in a wicker cage, where its vivacity and natural beauty are lessened or lost. At large, few European birds possess greater beauty, the pure white of its scapulars and inner web of the flight-feathers contrasting vividly with the deep glossy black on the rest of its body and wings, while its long tail is lustrous with green, bronze, and purple reflections. The pie's nest is a wonderful structure, placed either in trees or bushes, and massively built. Its foundation consists of stout sticks, turf and clay, wrought into a deep, hollow cup, plastered with earth, and lined with fibres; but around this is erected a basket-like outwork of thorny sticks, forming a dome over the nest, and leaving a hole in the side for entrance and exit. Herein are laid from six to nine eggs, of a pale bluish-green
freckled with brown and blotched with ash-colour. The magpie, in common with the raven, the jay, and many birds of prey, has a remarkable capacity, when its mate is killed, for obtaining a new mate within a day or two. In the case of the pie and the jay, a large gathering of birds of the species is said to appear on the scene, and apparently the new mate is selected from these.
The pie belongs to the crow family and is scientifically termed Pica pica. It inhabits Europe, North-west Africa and Asia, and is replaced in western North America by a sub-species. In California P. nuttalli is distin guishable by its yellow bill and the bare yellow skin round its eyes.