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Show MAGPIE INVENTS NEW GAME Tantalises Little Flycatcher by Hold, Ing Tempting Morsel In Mouth While Dancing About. A young magpie came Into the possession pos-session of Mr. K. J. Danfleld, who. In his book, "My Tropic Isle," gives aa Interesting account Of the bird's ao eompllsbnients. It went In and out of the kitchen at will, and If by chance food was not spread out at the accustomed ac-customed place. It protested loudly, and always effectively. The bird spent many hours endeavoring endeav-oring to sing. No cultured relative was present to teach the notes of its kind, so that In default It learned the complete vocabulary of the domestic poultry, besides the more familiar calls and exclamations of its mistress. A white-eared flycatcher took up Us abode near the house, and the magpie, after a decent lapse of time, admitted the stranger to Its companionship. The wild, larderless bird, however, bad little time to play. All Its wits and energies were devoted to the serious se-rious business of life. It knew none of the games that the magpie Invented except one a kind of aerial "peep bo," to which the more Intelligent bird lured It by means of a prise. The magpie found a moth, big of abdomen, fat and brown, a tempting morsel to any Insectivorous bird. En- : vious of the dainty, the wagtail Hut-tered Hut-tered and skipped about the magpie with cheerful chatter; but the fluttering flutter-ing moth, daintily held by the extremity extrem-ity of Its body, was alternately presented pre-sented and dnled. While they danced about a bush the magpie tantallxtngly held the moth for acceptance, and hopped off as the wagtail was about to snatch It. To the tame bird, fortl-Sed fortl-Sed by the knowledge that Its meals were provided. It was all fun. To the hungry wild one, the moth dangling temptingly before It and whipped disappointingly dis-appointingly away, It was a game squally sincere, but of varied Interest. The one assumed a whimsical air, chuckling In encouraging tones; the other took It all In earnest. At last, unable to restrain an exclamation ex-clamation of delight, the magpie unwarily un-warily slackened Its hold, and the moth fluttered off, to be snapped up on the Instant by the wild bird and gulped without ceremony. |