From Rod Cripps
I read with interest your article about smart chimps looking both ways before crossing a road (25 April, p 19). We have a local family of four Australian magpies. They come for a feed of minced meat every morning.
One morning, when the chicks were younger, one ran out onto the road. Mother magpie immediately rushed out and grabbed the youngster by the neck-feathers, dragged her back to the side of the road and severely vocally chastised her. A perfect example of the teaching of road sense.
Melbourne, Australia
