CORVID^ — THE CROWS. 267 



Eichardson observed these birds on the Saskatchewan, where a few remain 

 even in winter, but are much more frequent in summer. 



Mr. Lord, the naturalist of the British branch of the Northwest Boundary- 

 Survey, characterizes our Magpie as murderous, because of its cruel persecu- 

 tion of galled and suffering mules, its picking out the eyes of living animals, 

 and its destruction of birds. These birds caused so much trouble to the 

 party, in winter, at Colville, as to become utterly unbearable, and a large 

 number were destroyed by strychnine. They were then so tame and 

 impudent that he repeatedly gave them food from his hand without their 

 showing any evidence of fear. He says they nest in March. 



Dr. Suckley states that this Magpie is abundant throughout the central 

 region of Oregon and Washington Territory. He first met with it a hun- 

 dred miles west of Fort Union, at the mouth of the Yellowstone. It became 

 more abundant as the mountains were approached, and so continued almost 

 as far west as the Cascade Mountains, where the dense forests were an 

 effectual barrier. On Puget Sound he saw none until August, after which, 

 during the fall, it was tolerably abundant. It breeds throughout the in- 

 terior. He obtained a young bird, nearly fledged, about May 5, at Fort 

 Dalles. At this place a few birds remain throughout the winter, but a 

 majority retire farther south during the cold weather. One of its cries, he 

 says, resembles a peculiar call of Steller's Jay. 



Mr. Eidgway regards this Magpie as one of the most characteristic and 

 conspicuous birds of the interior region, distinguished both for the elegance 

 of its form and the beauty of its plumage. While not at all rare in the 

 fertile mountain canons, the principal resort of this species is the rich bottom- 

 land of the rivers. The usual note of the Magpie is a frequently uttered 

 chatter, very peculiar, and, when once heard, easily recognized. During the 

 nesting-season it utters a softer and more musical and plaintive note, sound- 

 ing something like haif -c-elih-hay-c. It generally flies about in small flocks, 

 and, like others of its family, is very fond of tormenting owls. In the winter, 

 in company witli the Eavens, it resorts to the slaughter-houses to feed on offal. 

 The young differ but little in plumage from the adult, the metallic colors 

 being even a little more vivid ; the white spotting of the throat is charac- 

 teristic of the innnature bird. 



The nests were found by Mr. Eidgway in various situations. Some were 

 in cedars, some in willows, and others in low shrubs. In every instance the 

 nest was domed, the inner and real nest being enclosed in an immense thorny 

 covering, which far exceeded it in bulk. In the side of this thorny protection 

 is a winding passage leading into the nest, possibly designed to conceal the 

 very long tail of the bird, which, if exposed to view, would endanger its safety. 



Dr. Cooper first met this bird east of the Cascade INIountains, near the 

 Yakima, and from there in his journey northward as for as the 49th degree 

 it was common, as well as in all the open unwooded regions until the 

 mountains were passed on his return westward. 



