A single magpie

It is thought that seeing a single magpie is so rare that it is very unlucky. Though due to their namesake, (named 'maggot pie' originally because they were often seen pecking at corpses) they were commonly considered a bad omen, much like any other bird that scavenged meat. It was put into a childrens rhyme, the original was thought to go something like this;

"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 sell!"

However it has been changed many times to different things, the common modern day version is more or less this;

"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 wish,

Nine for a kiss

Ten for a bird you must not miss."

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x320/lunasif/Felkyo%20pets/Book%20images/magpie.jpg