What does it mean

[lasheress]

What does it mean when you see something like 14 magpies or more, or if you see about 50 odd magpies together. Is there some mythical meaning for this like one for sorrow etc.....

[Octavius]

It probably means that you have stumbled upon some good feeding ground!

The rhyme alas doesn't go beyond 10.  This is an alternative version:

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'.

I hope you doffed your cap and wished them good morning.

[WaldoMcFroog]

I think you need to check this article:

http://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/email.php?id=836

[woofgang]

waldo that link just gives me an error message

[Octavius]

take the p out of it (!)

http://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/email.php?id=836

[mimififi]

I know the

One for sorrow, two for joy

three for a girl four for a boy (then the same as Oct's.) version.

I always say Good morning to mr magpie, even in the afternoon! 

I do know that 3 crows in a row mean death (according to lore), and magpies are from the same family of dead flesh eating, non-hopping, walking birds like ravens, crows rooks etc, so maybe?

[irishlyn]

only rhyme i know is

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 a letter from across the sea

nine for a true love true as can be

If you see 14 magpies you bring it down to a single number...eg...1+4 =5 which is for silver

If you see a single magpie you always wish it the time of day to ward off evil

[sam_west_57]

They are planning some wacked out conspiracy (dunno how u spell tht but sure u get it!)