49 



©riginal %xtuU^, 



NOTES ON THE AZURE-WINGED MAGPIE (Pica cyaneaj, &c. 



By G. F. Mathews, Esq., R.N., F.L.S. 



IStli January, 1864. — I started this morning, at half-past four, 

 with two of my messmates for Coina, a small village situated on the 

 south side of the Tagus, across the bay commonly known to English 

 sailors as ''Jackass Bay;" and much resorted to by the sporting 

 inhabitants of Lisbon on account of the snipe shooting which is to be 

 obtained there. We wrapped ourselves up warmly in railway rugs and 

 great coats, as the morning was raw and chilly, lit our cigars, and 

 reclining comfortably in the boat, had a pleasant row across, arriving there 

 just at daybreak, the distance being I should say from six to eight miles. 

 It is not my intention, however, to give a long description of the manner 

 of sport we had, but merely to mention the fact that we were by no means 

 displeased at the end of the day at the bag we had made. Having briefly 

 noticed that shortly after landing, a fine male Lanias excubitor, Lin. was 

 shot while sitting on the bare branch of a lofty poplar, and likewise a 

 specimen of Picus major, Lin. as it ran up the bark of a patriarchal fir tree; 

 I shall at once proceed to the principal object of this paper; which is to 

 record the intense gratification of seeing (although not for the first time, 

 as I observed a small flock near the same place in February, 1863,) in 

 considerable numbers, the graceful and beautiful Pica cyanea. No one, 

 except those who have experienced the feeling, can have any idea of the 

 intense pleasure there is in meeting in its native haunts a bird, or any 

 other living creature which one has only read of in books, or seen 

 preserved in museums, and especially such a charming bird as this. The 

 first flock I saw, and which consisted of some two hundred individuals, 

 were flying along the borders of an extensive fir wood, their beautiful 

 azure blue wings and tails, dun coloured backs and breasts, white throats 

 and coal black heads contrasting remarkably with the dark green of the 

 neighbouring trees, and the sun shining brightly at the time made them 

 appear doubly conspicuous and attractive. They were keeping up an inces- 

 sant chattering as they moved from tree to tree (which indeed had at first 

 called my attention to them, when I was some distance off,) many flying 

 No. 4, June 15. E 



