THE
MAGPYE.
This is a very mischievous bird, doing great damage in warrens, and much
of the same nature as the crow, preying on all kinds of flesh and
carrion, like that animal. They are extremely pernicious about
farm-yards and houses, killing and devouring young ducks and chickens,
and likewise in sucking and destroying eggs in great numbers, about
farm-houses, where the hens lay them by the sides of the rickyards and
under the hedges. When you find they become troublesome in the above
instances, set your trap (where you observe them to come) in the same
manner as you do for the crow; bait it with a rat, which is as good a
bait as any, or with an egg; or if they have killed any young ducks or
chickens, and have not devoured them, at that place, where you find
them, set your trap, and bait it with the dead duckling or chicken, and
you need not fear catching them: but be careful to observe the following
rule, which is, as soon as one of the Magpyes is trapped, to take it out
as soon as possible, in order to set your trap again. You may easily
discover this event, for as soon as one is taken in the trap, it makes a
screaming noise, which brings great numbers of these vermin together,
who come hovering and flying over their captive brother, which will give
you a fair opportunity of shooting among them and destroying many. This
method I have often put into execution, and it has been attended with
very good success.