MissX --- OMG, I'd forgotten all about magpies! I used to live in the UK, and my friends there did train me in the ways of magpie courtesy... We always used to say 'Good morning (or afternoon or whatever), Mr. Magpie, and give my regards to Mrs. Magpie' whenever we saw them, as well as touching caps or forelocks in the bird's general direction. I remember one morning on the bus to school, there was much commotion with the whole bus-load of us all greeting the magpies --- I don't know where they all came from, but there were 50 or 60 of them that morning, dotted along the route. No one could have a conversation because of all the magpie-greetings! I don't really remember the reason for the superstition, though, except that I know it was bad luck to pass a magpie without greeting it... Can you refresh my memory?

--- sweetstuff

P.s. Lilith, this is a magpie...
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