THE MAGPIE. 113 



ther in a cage, or going at large in the house. 

 If he is allowed to range the house, it will be 

 well to keep the things he likes so well out of his 

 reach, or he may put them where my Blue Jays 

 put the surplus of their food, where it may be 

 very difficult to find them. 



FOOD. Their food, like the Blue Jays, they 

 are no wise choice about ; they will eat anything 

 that is used in the house. In a cage they thrive 

 well on meal and milk, and a bit of meat, cooked 

 or raw. Gravel, and water to wash. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEXES. The male of 

 this bird has the head, neck, and upper part of 

 the breast, of a deep velvet black ; the inner vanes 

 of the large wing feathers, the lower parts of the 

 breast and belly, are pure white. The tail, of 

 which the two middle feathers are much the 

 longest, is most splendidly colored with green, 

 blue, and purple reflections, on a glossy jet black. 

 The only difference with the female is, that the 

 colors are duller and fainter. 



LOCATION. Found throughout the interior of 

 Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and the Rocky 

 Mountains Resident. 



