Today’s picture is to convey a little of the flavour of Canberra this morning. It shows the drawing (although not actually in Canberra) on which the first description of our A Magpie, in 1801, is said to be based. Then there is a picture of our national parliament this morning, recently vacated, until 2 March, by the parliamentarians who have done their work here for the time being. The bird, the same one being shown in a small and larger version, is of the black-backed plumage type like the early drawing. This is rather unusual in Canberra where most magpies carry some sign of a mixed heritage. The perched bird is a juvenile from the family that forages on the green slopes a bit further up the hill. It is clinging to the rope barrier that indicates that the lush green magpie-frequented slopes are closed to human traffic, at least for the time being. Geoffrey
