Pecking order

Down on a tennis court below me, a family of magpies were interacting while an older one sat high above them 'on guard'..  At first I thought they were pecking at a deceased  one with what looked like it's foot tangled in the net. Then another laid on its back and allowed others to peck at it the same way.     After a few minutes, both the submissive birds jumped up  good as gold appearing to be unharmed.  No doubt it's some Magpie ritual I was privileged to observe.