MAGPIE. 131 



the longest ; wings, when shut, reach within two inches of the tip of the 

 tail ; tail rounded, and seven inches long from its insertion ; thighs very 

 long ; legs stout ; claws sharp, long and hooked, hind one the largest, 

 all jet black. Male and female much alike. 



I would beg leave to recommend to the watchful farmers of the 

 United States, that in their honest indignation against the common 

 Crow, they would spare the present species, and not shower destruc- 

 tion, indisci'iminately, on their black friends and enemies ; at least on 

 those who sometimes i^lnnder them, and those who never molest or injure 

 their property. 



Species V. CORVUS PICA. 



MAGPIE. 



[Plate XXXV. Fig. 2.] 



Arct. Zool. No. 136.— Lath. Sijn. i., 392.— Buff, hi., 85. PL Enl. 488.* 



This bird is much better known in Europe than in this country, where 

 it has not been long discovered ; although it is now found to inhabit a 

 wide extent of territory, and in great numbers. The drawing was taken 

 from a very beautiful specimen, sent from the Mandan nation, on the 

 Missouri, to Mr. Jefferson, and by that gentleman to Mr. Peale of this 

 city, in whose Museum it lived for several months, and where I had an 

 opportunity of examining it. On carefully comparing it with the 

 European Magpie in the same collection, no material difference could 

 be perceived. The figure in the plate is reduced to exactly half the size 

 of life. 



This bird unites in its character courage and cunning, turbulency, and 

 rapacity. Not inelegantly formed, and distinguished by gay as well as 

 splendid plumage, he has long been noted in those countries where he 

 commonly resides, and his habits and manners are there familiarly 

 known. He is particularly pernicious to plantations of young oaks, 

 tearing up the acorns ; and also to birds, destroying great numbers of 

 their eggs and young, even young chickens, partridges, grouse, and 

 pheasants. It is perhaps on this last account that the whole vengeance 

 of the game laws has lately been let loose upon him, in some parts of 



* We add the followinff synonymcs : — Curvus pica, Linn. Syst. ed. 10, i., p. 106. — 

 Gmel. Syst. I., p. 373. — Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 162. — La Pie, Briss. Orn. vol. ii., p. 

 35. — Temm. Man. d' Orn. i., p. 113. 



