PICA HUDSONICA. 521 



being eminently distinguished by the elegance of its form and the striking 

 contrasts of its plnmage. In western Nevada, from the Sierras east- 

 ward to the West Humboldt Mountains, it was one of the most abundant 

 species, but on the opposite side of the Grreat Basin its entire absence 

 from many favorable localities was noted as the most striking peculiarity 

 of the fauna. It was most abundant in the rich valleys of the Truckee and 

 Carson Rivers, and along the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada; and, 

 although less common, it was very far from rare in the lower canons of the 

 West Humboldt Mountains. It was resident wherever observed, and at 

 all times was rather familiar than otherwise, though when much persecuted 

 in one locality it soon learned, by the natural shrewdness characteristic of 

 the family, to look out for itself. During the winter the Magpies resorted 

 daily, in company with the Ravens, to the slaughter-houses to feed upon 

 the offixl. 



The Black-billed Magpie is more or less gregarious at all seasons, and 

 when moving about usually goes in small troops, or loose ilocks, which 

 chatter in their peculiar manner as they fly. The usual note is a distinct 

 chatter, unlike the note of any other bird of our acquaintance, but during 

 the breeding-season a softer, more musical note is frequently uttered, sound- 

 ing somewhat like hay' e-elih-hay' . We did not detect any difference between 

 the notes of this and the Yellow-billed species, although slight differences 

 may exis'. 



Liiit of specimens. 



101, ijuv.; Camp 10, Truckee Meadows, Nevada, July 6, 18C7. Willows. 1(>— 

 24J — Sg — 7 — 11 — 1| — 8§ — 6i. Bill, slaty-black, fadiug into ashy on bare orbital regiou ; 

 iris, very dark brown, with pearl-blue outer ring; tarsi and toes, black, the latter ashy 

 beneath. 



143, <J ad.; Camp 17, valley of the Humboldt, August 31, 18(57. 19g— 23g— 7Jl— 

 6fl— l-fV—U— lOf— 8|. Same remarks. 



178, S ad.; Camp IS, West Humboldt Mouutains, September 10, 1867. 18.J— 23— 

 7f— G^— Its— Ije— It^iV-Si^- Same remarks. 



194, 9 ad.; Camp 19, West Humboldt Mouataius, September 19, 1867. 20—21— 

 84— 7— l-j-V-lJ— llj— ^i- Same remarks. Bill, pure black. 



20i,9 ad.; Camp 19, September 21, 1867. 20—24.1-8/^^—7—1^—11—111—05. 

 Same remarks. 



240, ^nr?.; Camp 19, October 11, 1867. 17g— 21^—74— 6i—l|—U— 9.^-8. Same 

 remarks. 



