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Story
April 8, 1904
The Coalville Times
Coalville, Summit County, Utah
What is this article about?
A speculative explanation suggests the magpie builds a twig dome over its nest not for shelter, but due to a guilty conscience from stealing eggs, using gained knowledge to protect its own.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
MAGPIE PROTECTS ITS NEST.
Odd Construction May Be Result of Working of Conscience.
Why does the magpie construct a dome of twigs over its nest? Most readers will say as a shelter: but it does not in the least answer to such a description. The twigs are only a network through which rain may pour and cold winds penetrate. May it not be the case that the magpie is conscious of its own sins, and a guilty mind, apprehensive of reprisals, causes the bird to build this covering over its nest? The magpie is an egg stealer, and makes use of knowledge gained while carrying out its depredations on the contents of other nests, to protect those of its own. - Country Gentleman.
Odd Construction May Be Result of Working of Conscience.
Why does the magpie construct a dome of twigs over its nest? Most readers will say as a shelter: but it does not in the least answer to such a description. The twigs are only a network through which rain may pour and cold winds penetrate. May it not be the case that the magpie is conscious of its own sins, and a guilty mind, apprehensive of reprisals, causes the bird to build this covering over its nest? The magpie is an egg stealer, and makes use of knowledge gained while carrying out its depredations on the contents of other nests, to protect those of its own. - Country Gentleman.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Animal Story
What themes does it cover?
Nature
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Magpie Nest
Animal Conscience
Egg Stealing
Bird Behavior
Story Details
Story Details
The magpie builds a ineffective twig dome over its nest, speculated to result from conscience over egg-stealing, using raid knowledge for protection.