RATHER TOO CLEVER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 50, 16 December 1893, Page 527

RATHER TOO CLEVER.

A magpie’s nest is a clever piece of architecture. I nlike that of most birds, it has a roof, which keeps its inmates warm ; only a very small opening is left for the parent birds to go out and in. Amt how strong is the nest. A perfect feudal castle, with a wall of thorns around it, that an enemy would find great difficulty in passing. XX ell enough it may be fortified, for Mistress Mag has her enemies —greedy birds, to whom a baby magpie would be a dainty morsel, and with whom she occasionally has a battle royal in defence of her young. The nest itself is built of sticks, and is very large—that is, compared with those of most birds; inside, it is lined with clay, which keeps out every breath of cold air. This is the legend that is told of the magpie and its roofed in house. In olden times a great number of the feathered tribe came to the magpie, and asked him to teach them how to build a perfect nest, for he was the only one who could manage it. Mr Mag was quite willing to lecture upon the subject, and began : • First of all, my friends, you must lay two sticks across thus.' ‘ Ay,' said the crow : ‘ I thought that was the way to begin.’ ‘ Then lay a feather on a bit of moss.’ ‘ Certainly,’ cried the jackdaw, ‘ 1 know that comes next. ‘Then place tow, feathers, moss, and sticks in this way.’ ‘ Yes, of course,’ said the starling ; ‘ everyone could tell how to do that.’ At last the magpie got vexed ; and when he had finished half the nest he said:—‘ Gentlemen, I find you can all build nests, co you do not require me to teach you.’ And away lie flew. So to this day none but the magpie can build more than half a nest.