Magpies
: NATURE SONGS: Popular Rhymes And Nursery Tales
Wide-spread is the superstition that it is unlucky to see magpies under
certain conditions, but these vary considerably in different localities.
Thus, in some counties, two bring sorrow, in others joy; while, in some
places, we are instructed that one magpie is a signal of misfortune,
which can, however, be obviated by pulling off your hat, and making a
very polite bow to the knowing bird. This operation I have more than
One for anger,
Two for mirth,
Three for a wedding,
Four for a birth,
Five for rich,
Six for poor,
Seven for a witch,
I can tell you no more.
But in Tim Bobbin it is expressly said that two are indicative of ill
fortune: "I saigh two rott'n pynots, hongum, that wur a sign o' bad
fashin; for I heard my gronny say hoode os leef o seen two owd harries
os two pynots." The same belief obtains in Scotland. In the North they
thus address the bird:
Magpie, magpie, chatter and flee,
Turn up thy tail, and good luck fall me.
The half-nest of the magpie is accounted for by a rural ornithological
legend. Once on a time, when the world was very young, the magpie, by
some accident or another, although she was quite as cunning as she is at
present, was the only bird that was unable to build a nest. In this
perplexity, she applied to the other members of the feathered race, who
kindly undertook to instruct her. So, on a day appointed, they assembled
for that purpose, and, the materials having been collected, the
blackbird said, "Place that stick there," suiting the action to the
word, as she commenced the work. "Ah!" said the magpie, "I knew that
afore." The other birds followed with their suggestions, but to every
piece of advice, the magpie kept saying, "Ah! I knew that afore." At
length, when the birdal habitation was half-finished, the patience of
the company was fairly exhausted by the pertinacious conceit of the pye,
so they all left her with the united exclamation, "Well, Mistress Mag,
as you seem to know all about it, you may e'en finish the nest
yourself." Their resolution was obdurate and final, and to this day the
magpie exhibits the effects of partial instruction by her miserably
incomplete abode.
The magpie is always called Madge, and the Christian names given to
birds deserve a notice. Thus we have Jack Snipe, Jenny Wren, Jack Daw,
Tom Tit, Robin Redbreast, Poll Parrot, Jill Hooter, Jack Curlew, Jack
Nicker, and King Harry for the goldfinch, and the list might be widely
extended. A starling is always Jacob, a sparrow is Philip, a raven is
Ralph, and the consort of the Tom Tit rejoices in the euphonic name of
Betty! Children give the name of Dick to all small birds, which, in
nursery parlance, are universally Dickybirds.
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