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Okay, I was trying to figure this out as well after I came across the phrase in Dumas' The Three Musketeers. After reading all of the the D'Artagnan Romances, you can put two and two together in the last chapter of the last book when it is explained that magpies are flown as prey/targets for falconers. So apparently "fly the magpie" means to release magpies for trained falcons to hunt, a common aristocratic pasttime.
There are many beliefs about what magpies symbolise, many of which revolve around the number that you see in one go. There is a very old saying:
One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told
Eight to wish
Nine to kiss
Ten is a bird you must not miss
i agree with the one above all the others I've never heard of.......
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This denotes what each group of birds means. It stems from the Celtic lore that magpies are associated with faery lore. However, as Christianity started to spread throughout the country, the association changed to be connected to Devil and which craft. To reflect this, over time the say was adapted, particularly for use in Scotland, and looked like this:
One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told
Eight for Heaven
Nine for Hell
Ten for the Devil himself
Or, as it was later adapted again to make more rhyming sense:
One for sorrow
Two for mirth
Three for a wedding
Four for a birth
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret not to be told
Eight for heaven
Nine for hell
And ten for the devil's own sel'
A magpie is a black and white bird with a long black tail that is related to the raven and crow. Magpies are smaller than American crows are, but much larger than a sparrow. They are omnivorous birds as well as scavengers, quite often feeding on the same carcass as ravens are feeding on, and eating other birds' (preferably song birds) eggs.
a gentle, nervous bird who will fly away if you scare it, yet they are very defensive, family oriented and are willing to swoop you to protect their nest.
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What doe a magpie tattoo symbolise?
1 for sorrow 2 for joy 3 for a girl and 4 for a boy ...as the rhyme goes. So it depends, one mapies is thought to symbolise bad luck. Though two is considered good luck.
What is scientific name of the magpie?
That depends on the magpie. There are four genera of magpie and 13 different species of magpie.
What is the magpie's scientific name?
That depends on the magpie. There are four genera of magpie and 13 different species of magpie.
What kind of butterfly will the magpie caterpillar turn into?
The Clouded Magpie caterpillar turns into a Clouded Magpie Moth
What is a magpie geese?
A magpie goose is an Australian waterbird.
What bodycovring does a magpie have?
A magpie's body is covered in skin and feathers.
When was The Mathematical Magpie created?
The Mathematical Magpie was created in 1962.
When was Magpie Records created?
Magpie Records was created in 1976.
When was Magpie - comics - created?
Magpie - comics - was created in 1986.
When was Magpie Lane created?
Magpie Lane was created in 1992.
When was Magpie Recycling created?
Magpie Recycling was created in 1992.
When was Magpie Shrike created?
Magpie Shrike was created in 1831.
