THE MAGPIE. 53 



of the same tribe had been mutually agreed upon 

 and distinctly settled. But the Magpie was found 

 to be far more daring than the Jay, dashing into 

 their very tents, and carrying off the meat from the 

 dishes. One of the hunters who accompanied the 

 expedition stated that they frequently attended him 

 while he was engaged in skinning and cleaning the 

 carcass of the deer, bear, or buffalo he had killed, 

 often seizing the meat that hung within a foot or two 

 of his head. On the shores of the Koos-koos-ke 

 river, on the west side of the great range of Rocky 

 Mountains, they were found to be equally numerous. 

 " It is highly probable that those vast plains or 

 prairies, abounding with game and cattle, frequently 

 killed for the mere hides, tallow, or even marrow- 

 bones, may be one great inducement for the residency 

 of these birds, so fond of flesh and carrion. Even 

 the rigorous severity of winter in the high regions 

 along the head-waters of the Rio del Norte, Arkansas, 

 and Red Rivers, seems insufficient to force them from 

 those favorite haunts ; though it appears to increase 

 their natural voracity to a very uncommon degree. 

 Colonel Pike relates that in the month of December, 

 in the neighborhood of the North Mountain, these 

 birds were seen in great numbers. ' Our horses/ 

 says he, ' were obliged to scrape the snow away to 

 obtain their miserable pittance ; and, to increase their 

 misfortunes, the poor animals were attacked by the 

 Magpies, who, attracted by the scent of their sore 

 backs, alighted on them, and in defiance of their 

 wincing and kicking, picked many places quite raw; 

 5* 



