Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1915-04-03 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

NORTHERN  IN MANY MOODS.  Mysteries of Nature.  Problems of Science.  Mag is one of the beat "stepmothers" amongst The feathered race. If the husband happens to lose his wife by untimely death, as he often does, he soon finds a henevorent soul ready to undertake the care of the motherless brood, and evidently all tbe reward she has in doing so is to do her level best for the adopted infants, departing in peace when they are full-fledged. A citse is on record where a Magpie, seven times widowed, as often consoled himaelf, and the seventh time mare(' a tweed! Surely this is one of the redeer points, even if elle carries about with lil'r eeesever she goes the enormous stigma of verreiln." And we don't wonder. you know, after all. that her beautiful (vet should form such a frequeut ornament to the gable end of the gamekeeper's exhibits, for she has an °raniverous maw. Leverets, young rahhits, pheasents. partrir3.gee chickens, not to mention eggs of all descriptions, are greatly appreciated. and it has been said that weakly lambs are nut sate item her That's indeed a atertliug catalogue of crime and erueity, Mag, and much persecution ought to make you reform! You take a peculiar delight in a pheasant's nest, and the best-tent red keeper could never stand that, you know. Yeer pemohant for anything bright is a matter of heredity, which your rather cunning, evarielous eves, we know, cannot withstand, and fan Yi y plate, that bears not your (\met. is •onsidered a charming lining for your nest. and a most desirable plaything for the young pies. These , proolivitaee are allowable, but poaching is a crime that yoe can never live under. so set that eonteiteletive noddle yews on (rue side, and find a way of stopping your evil ways. If taken Item the nese. Meg can he made a most amienig pet, as beyond her thieving propensities she is quite harmkes. She is a fund of fun in the irreeistibly corniced way she hops about, always with a jerk, and generally with her head on one side. The only thing that is against tamill4 these restless bipeds is that they are liable to fits of melaneholy—s kind of centemp la ri vi melancholy—and they are rather too much given tic studying their own Shadows in winker tubs; often that contemplation ends in suicide. This is mere often the case when Mag has become extra-civilised, and can oenverse with you im a more intelligent way than the hazel) chatter that is so incessant; the extra education seems to tarn her head. She can certainly he taught not only to say word.s, but, even sentenoes. Nor is it the least necessary to follow the ernel practice in vogue in some oonnery districts, where slitting the bird's einguie with a sixpence is sepposed to be the only wey to ensitl. her speaking distinctly. If Mags chatter is the means of raising the keeper's glee she is 11JE'Sled by the hUllt.:4lloJ3 Any excuse is good enough for her to speak her mind, and many a gallaut fox owes his death to Mage indiscreet remarks for when the scent is lost, Ma s's °bettering above the hunted fox will show which way he his gone. Ovid aecounte for their gabbling propeneities by saying that a family of yonee ladies in Macedonia were all changed into Magpies: " And still their tongues went on. though changed to birds, In endless clack and vast desire of weede." It is only in eprieg, when incubation occupies Mrs Meg, and prevents her keeping her husband in order. [ext. lie is particularly obnoxious deriug the remainder of the year he is .very useful both to man end beast. For the former's benefit he does the work of a scavenger, while he is constantly seen emened on the backs of oxen aml  , -cCI um" AL. `•■•!/  r s,r-7.7 • fri:Ole