Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/499

Rh Although the same nest is not occupied during successive years, the same tree is resorted to season after season. Furthermore, a keen observer has given me as his opinion, that should one of a pair nesting in a tree to which they had become attached be killed between nesting seasons, the survivor brings along another mate to the old nesting tree. In exposed positions it is not often that such a frail nest, as it really is, holds together from one season to another. All Magpies have not built their homes of such prosaic materials as twigs and bark. Occasionally some daring spirit is to be found who, ignoring "Mrs. Grundy," has launched out on a plan of its own, much to the scandal of its everything-by-rule-of-thumb neighbours. In well-tilled districts wood becomes very scarce, only isolated giant gums being left here and there. Magpies were in a quandary, not enough suitable building material being easily available for housebuilding, and the problem was thus solved:—The first reapers and binders introduced into Tasmania were the "Walter A. Wood," binding with wire. When the stacks were thrashed the wire on each sheaf was cut and thrown in a heap. With this unpromising material some of the Magpies, in the Longford district more particularly, built their nests. String binders superseded wire, and the Magpies that used wire had to go back to the traditions of their forefathers and employ sticks.

Three and sometimes four eggs are laid. In shape they are oval; the ground colour is light greenish, spotted and blotched all over with amber. Dimensions are about 1½ in. by 1 in. To Tasmania belongs the privilege of being the first State to recognize the Magpie as being of economic value, and to extend protection to it as such. In 1879, under the Game Protection Act, 42 Vic, No. 24, it was decreed that whosoever killed the birds or destroyed their eggs would be liable to a penalty not exceeding £1. In 1885, this Act was extended under 48 Vic, No. 35, so that persons could not buy, sell, or offer for sale birds of this species. Notwithstanding that this Act is still in force, large numbers of young birds are taken annually from their nests and sold as pets to dwellers in the towns.

Some time since, while on a visit to a district in the northern part of the island, I was struck by the total absence of the Magpie. On asking if there was any known reason for it, I was