PICA MELANOLEUCA VAK. HUDSONICA, MAGPIE. 211 



when at ease, and of extremely loud, harsh cries when in fear or anycr. 

 The former are somewhat jj;uttiiral, but the latter possess a resonance 

 different both from the hoarse screams of Cyanura macrolopha, and the 

 sharp, wiry voice of the Cyanocltta. Like Jays, it is a restless, impetu- 

 ous bird, as it were of an unbalanced, even frivolous, mind ; its turbu- 

 lent presence contrasting- strongly with tlie poised and somewhat sedate 

 demeanor of the larger black Corvi. With these last, however, it shares 

 a strong (character — its attitudes when on the ground, to which it 

 habitually descends, being crow-like; and its gait, an easy walk or run, 

 differing entirely from the leaping ])rogression of the true Jays. It 

 shares a shy and watchful disposition with its relatives on both sides of 

 the family ; its flight is most nearly like that of the Picicorvus. It is 

 highly gregarious, in the strict sense of the term. Immense as the 

 gatherings of Crows frequently are, these birds seem to associate rather 

 in community of interest than in obedience to a true social instinct; 

 each individual looks out for himself, and the company disperses for 

 cause as readily as it assembles. It is different with these small, Blue- 

 Jay Crows ; they flock, sometimes in surprising numbers, keep as close 

 together as Blackbirds, and move as if by a common impulse. As usual, 

 their dispersion is marked, if not complete, at the breeding- season ; but 

 the flocks reassemble as soon as the yearlings are well on wing, from 

 which time until the following s|)ring hundreds are usually seen 

 together. On one occasion at least, I witnessed a gathering of probably 

 a thousand individuals. 

 The nest and eggs of this bird apparently remain unknown. 



Subfamily Garrulin^: Jays, 



PICA MELANOLEUCA var. HUDSONICA, (Sab.) Cones. 



American Magpie. 



a. melanoleuca. 



Corvns pica, Linn., Fu. Suec. 92 ; Syst. Nat. i, 1766, 1.57 ; and of early authors. 



Pica melanoltnca, Vieill., Nonv. Diet. iVHist. Nat. xsvi, 121. 



Pica albivcutria, Vieill., Fu. Frany. lit), i>l. 55, f. 1. 



Pica curopaa, Bdie, Isis, 1822, 551. 



Pica rimticonim, Lkach, Cat. IhIG, 18. 



Pica caudata, Fleming, Br. An. 1828, 87 ; and of many authors. 



Pica varia, SciiL., Kcv. Ciit. Ois. Eur. 1814, 54. 



Pica (jcnnanica, m^jtentrionali-iynt hicinaH-s^BuKuyi, Y. D. 1831, 177, 178. 



b. hudsonica. 



Corviiapica, FonsT.. Pliil. Trans. Ixxii, 1772, 382.— WiLS., Am. Orn. iv, 1811,75, pi. 35. f. 

 2.— Hi'., Ohs. Wils. 1825, No. 4U; 8vn. 1828, 57, No. 62.— Sw. A Rich.. F. B. A. 

 ii. 1831, 292.— NuTT., Man. i, 1832, 219.— ACD., Orn. Biog. iv, 1838, 408, pi. 357. 



Corru8 hmhoniciiH, SaI!., Apji. Franklin's .Journey, 1823, 25,671. 



Pica hudnoiiica, Bi'., List, ln:',H; Consp. i, 1850, 383.— Maxim., Reise, i, 1839, 508; J.f. O. 

 1858, 197.— Nkwu., P.R. R. Rep. vi, 1857, 84.— Bd.. B. N. A. 1H.5S, 576.— Wot (DU., 

 Sitgr. Rep. 1853, 77.— Coor. *t SiXK., N. H. Wash. Ter. 18i;(), 213.— II a yd., 

 Rep. 1862, 171.— LoiM), I'r. Arty. Inst, iy, 121 (Briti.sli Cohnnliia). — Dai.i. &. 

 Bann., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, 1869.286 (Alaska) —Fixsni, Ahli. Nat. iii. ISTJ. ;v.) 

 (Alaska).— Cool-., B. Cal. i, 1870, 296.— Sx;)W, B. Kans. 1>'73. s (8lia\vnee 

 County, Kans.).- lIoLDEN-AiKEN, Pr. Bost. Soc. 1872, 204 (Wyoming, almndaut, 

 hrc<Mling).— 8tev., U. S. Gcol. Surv. Ter. 1870, 4(55.— Mei!I:.,"(7»/V/. 1872, i\d7. 



CJe])(c8 hiidniniiciiH', Gamh., .Jouni. i'hila. Acad, i, 1847, 47. 



Pica ntcUiiwIriird, Aid., Syn. 1K59, l.")7 ; 15. Am. iv, 1842, 'M, \t\. 2-2T. 



Pica mrJaiiuldica var. luidminira. Coi'i'.s, K»'y, 1H72, 11)4, lig. I(i6. 



Pica caudata var. hndmitiictt, Am, ex. Bull. "SI. C. Z. iii, 1872, 17s (Kansas, &c.). — B. B. & 

 R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 266, pi. 38, f. 1. 



