Show Ma Magpies p s Often Often r Arrant Rogues S. S Diet Includes Great Number of Injurious Insects Like Gra Grasshoppers shoppers Prepared by the United tinned d Department of Magpies found over o much of ot the tile northwest nOrOl quarter of the United States have a n bad had reputation among farmers Carmer fruit growers growels poultry keepers keep keep- ers erSt and stockmen Unlike many birds with unjustly bad reputations reputations I the magpie deserves some con con- I At times It becomes a serious pest and antl hi In such cases shooting shootIng shoot shoot- Ing or poisoning may amy be the only rem rem- edy The magpie has no particular a aversion to taste of str strychnine ch- ch niue nine so O for bait halt this poison Is recommended recommended rec- rec by hy the biological survey survey suney of I Ithe the United States Department of ot Ag Ag- I Magpies Steal Eggs Eggs Magpies Harpies have been known to steal i eggs gg from chicken yards to carry to their young They sometimes kill l hicks chicks They also show great partiality partiality par pal tIa ity to cherry orchards Perhaps the then r worst worst offense Is harr harrying weak or wounded grounded animals and antl even en occa occasionally occasionally occa- occa sound nn and and- healthy creatures Tl magpie attack Is A magpie Ian hag been been- known to l keep pecking peckIng peck peck- Ing and enlarging a n wound of ot an nn an- an Imn finally resulting In death of the the animal after days s 's of suffering On Ou the time other hand the magpie often otten Is Is beneficial Its diet Includes a groat number of Injurious insects In Particular particular particular ular grasshoppers and caterpillars inthe In Inthe lh the spring and antl grasshoppers grasshopper later In Inthe Inthe inthe the summer and autumn The grain the magpie eats Is largely waste in inthe inthe the fields for the time bird prefers insects both b th at planting time and during the harvest season For these rea reasons magpies are useful and antl should be protected protected protected pro pro- wherever where the evil e they do does not overbalance their theil good services Not Hard liard to Eradicate Whenever It is desirable to craft craft- eradicate cate cite magpies the e task Is not Dot difficult for the magpie I Is a year round resident resident resident resi resi- dent and its elimination In a 11 neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neigh neigh- where it is a p pest st does not nol cause a diminution of or numbers in areas where conditions make the magpie mag mag- pie a n good servant to the farmer |