Northern European Mythology
Popular Romances of the West of England: Popular Superstitions: The Magpie
THE MAGPIE.
"ONE is asign of anger,
Two is a sign of mirth,
Three is a sign of a wedding,
Four is a sign of a birth/death."
A scolding woman is called a magpie. Whenever you see a magpie, take off your hat to it; this will turnaway the anger.