146 BULLETIN 191, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



reported by Sutton (1934), as follows: "Once the birds had gone to 

 roost they were loath to leave the trees, and upon being frightened 

 flopped about clumsily, making their way to trees nearby, where they 

 became quiet as soon as possible. If disturbed in the early evening 

 at a favorite roosting-place they frequently flew to the mesas, then 

 trailed back, one by one, in a series of swift, headlong plunges, just at 

 nightfall." Skinner (MS.) reports that he has found magpies roosting 

 in the thick foliage of Douglas firs. 



It was stated by Kalmbach (1927) that "during the winter magpies 

 sometimes roost much after the fashion of crows, and in one instance 

 these two species were found using the same small island in the Snake 

 River in eastern Oregon as a place of nightly resort." In the winter 

 of 1922, a cattle shed near Treesbank, Manitoba, was regularly used 

 as a sleeping place by a group of six or seven magpies. The birds rested 

 on the backs of the c.attle overnight (Criddle, 1923). 



Bendire (1895) characterized the flight of the magpie as "slow and 

 wavering, and in windy weather evidently laborious. The long, wedge- 

 shaped tail seems to be decidedly in the way and a positive disadvantage, 

 causing it no little trouble in flying from point to point, and in such 

 weather it will only leave through necessity the sheltered bottom lands 

 it usually frequents." Also the flight is never very protracted. 



Tavemer (1926) writes of the magpie that it is "more often seen 

 retreating up the coulee, chattering as it glides from bush to bush. 

 * * * At other times, a small flock or family party will be seen passing 

 noisily along the tops of the hills, from brush clump to brush clump. 

 Again, they steal silently into camp or about the farm buildings intent 

 on any mischief that may present itself, but flee away in consternation 

 when disturbed." 



On many occasions, however, as indicated by Goss (1891), magpies 

 wlien pursued do not fly away wildly but will tempt the pursuer by 

 fussing about just out of reach. That observer also pointed out that 

 although the birds sustain themselves by rapid strokes of the wings, the 

 efifort is too great for extended flight. 



In a strong wind magpies tend to fly low, just over the tops of the 

 bushes, and they raise and lower their flight according to variation in 

 level of the bush tops. They probably avoid much of the force of the 

 wind by doing this. 



In his notes supplied for this account, M. P. Skinner writes that the 

 flight of a magpie is level, with wing beats slow and measured, yet the 

 flight is really swifter than it appears. At times they fly with a short 

 period of about five wing strokes alternating with a short sail on 

 spread wings. They fly low to escape a head wind. He has seen them 



