214 ZOOLOGY. 



the European species. They are very much disliked by the frontier traders and mountain men 

 of interior Oregon on accoiint of their vile propensity to alight on the sore backs of broken- 

 down and chafed horses or mules, most unceremoniously picking and feeding ui:)on the raw, sore 

 flesh, notwithstanding the moans, kicks, and rolling of the poor tortured animals. In this 

 manner many disabled beasts have been most irretrievably injured, and probably a vast number 

 even killed. It is said that the mountain men and trappers of former times so hated this bird, 

 on account of its evil propensity for horse flesh, that when one of them possessed but two 

 bullets he was sure to fire one at a magpie if he had an opportunity. These birds breed 

 throughout the interior. I obtained a young individual, nearly fledged, about May 6, 1855, at 

 Fort Dalles. 



As with other birds of the genus, carrion affords its principal food. The dead cattle, so 

 numerous along the great Oregon emigrant trail some years ago, afforded them an abundant 

 supply of food during half the year. The species is partially migratory. At Fort Dalles I 

 saw a few magpies staying throughout the winter. The majority of them, however, retire fur- 

 ther south during the cold season. 



One of the chattering cries of our magpie resembles much a peculiar call uttered by a 

 Steller's jay. 



I have never observed the yellow-billed magpie in Oregon. 



"When in the Rocky mountains I frequently noticed these birds assembling on the trees around 

 us, just before we were to leave our camp. Instinct, or, perhaps, experience, had taught them 

 that on our departure they would have "full swing" at the rinds of bacon and other culinary 

 refuse of the deserted camp. — S. 



I first met with the magpie east of the Cascade mountains, near the Yakima, and from there, 

 in our journey northward to the 49th degree, it was common, as well as in all the open 

 unwooded regions, until we again passed the mountains on our return westward. I saw nothing 

 of it at Vancouver during the winter, which was severe enough to cause a migration of several 

 other species of birds towards the coast. In the spring of 1855 I heard that magpies had been 

 on "Whitby's island during the winter, but none remained in March. I suppose, therefore, that 

 a few migrate to the westward in winter. I have heard of magpies frequenting the Columbia 

 river at Astoria, and near the mouth of the Willamette, in summer. I have never seen these, 

 but think they may be stragglers of the California species, which hav^e followed the plains o 

 the Willamette to its outlet. Both species inhabit open regions, and the dense forests of tht 

 lower Columbia must be very ill suited for their resorts. I have never found the magpies or 

 the upper Columbia as familiar as they have been represented to be in winter. In summer they 

 seemed rather shy, frequenting the thickets along streams and being commonly silent.— C. 



CYANURA STELLERI, Swain son. 



steller's Jay. 



CormsMleri, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 378.— Lath. Ind. Cm. I, 1790, 15S.— Pallas, Zoog. Kosso-As. I, 1811, 



393 — BoxAP. Zoo!. Jour. Ill, 1827, 49.— Ib. Suppl. Sya. 1828, 433.— Aud. Cm. Biog. IV. 



1838, 453; pi. 362. 



Garruhis stelleri, Vieillot, Diet. XII, 1817,481.— Bojjap. Am. Orn. II, 1828, 44; pi. xiii. — Nottall, Man. 1, 1832, 



299.— Aud. Syn. 1839, 154.— Ib. Birds Ainer. IV, 1842, 107; pi. 230. Not of Swaiuson, F. 



Bor. Amer. ? 



