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 THE CONDOR VOL. IX hands full to get the picture,' the youngsters being most decidedly lively, and keeping me busy replacing them as they hopped off the perch. This, one or more was sure to do wheu I thought I had them all right and turned toxvard the cainera. But patience xvas flually rewarded. Learning by experience ,xvheu I xvent to take the four weeks old picture I en- listed the aid of the two young daughters of the friend on whose ranch the nest was situated. On goiug to the nest the family of magpies were all in the branches outside. They could not quite fly, but could, and did, hop around in a most exasperating manuer. Oue could not be caught, aud we were forced to be content MAGPIE'S NEST IN COTTON7OOi) TREE xvith five. This uumber, hoxvever, proved sufficieut to give us all the trouble in ptxsing xve really needed. This day was the first when the old birds had mani- fested the least auxiety while the photographer was at work. Usually the parents, if about, flew away silently at my approach aud disappeared. But this time they were in the neighborhood all the time, screaming loudly, as if to tell us they had raised their family successfully so far and did uot wish them interfered with. I went again a week later and found the youugsters taking short flights. Thanks to experi_menting with a uew and untried lens not a siugle picture was secured. But one is given herewith of a bird seemingly about the same age, and