STRANGE but TRUE

In Britain, you will often see people saluting a single magpie if they see one. Magpies are considered portents of trouble, possibly because magpies mate for life and seeing one on its own may mean it has lost its mate. (Or it could just be off doing something else ...) Either way, if you see one, salute it and say: “Good morning Mr Magpie, and how is your lady wife today?”