pica pica.

one for sorrow
two for joy
three for a girl and
four for a boy
five for silver
six for gold
seven is a secret never to be told
eight is a wish and
nine is a kiss
ten is a bird you must not miss.

seeing a single magpie is bad luck. to ward off misfortune say this rhyme or greet him with "hello mr. magpie, how is your wife?".

{two magpie drawings from the feather book}