THE MAGPIE. 53 
of the same tribe had been mutually agreed upon 
and distinctly settled. But the Magpie was found 
to be far more daring than the Jay, dashing into 
their very tents, and carrying off the meat from the 
dishes. One of the hunters who accompanied the 
expedition stated that they frequently attended him 
while he was engaged in skinning and cleaning the 
carcass of the deer, bear, or buffalo he had killed, 
often seizing the meat that hung within a foot or two 
of his head. On the shores of the Koos-koos-ke 
river, on the west side of the great range of Rocky 
Mountains, they were found to be equally numerous. 
“Tt is highly probable that those vast plains or 
prairies, abounding with game and cattle, frequently 
killed for the mere hides, tallow, or even marrow- 
bones, may be one great inducement for the residency 
of these birds, so fond of flesh and carrion. Even 
the rigorous severity of winter in the high regions 
along the head-waters of the Rio del Norte, Arkansas, 
and Red Rivers, seems insufficient to force them from 
those favorite haunts; though it appears to increase 
their natural voracity to a very uncommon degree. 
Colonel Pike relates that in the month of December, 
in the neighborhood of the North Mountain, these 
birds were seen in great numbers. ‘Our horses,’ 
says he, ‘were obliged to scrape the snow away to 
obtain their miserable pittance ; and, to increase their 
misfortunes, the poor animals were attacked by the 
Magpies, who, attracted by the scent of their sore 
backs, alighted on them, and in defiance of their 
wincing and kicking, picked many places quite raw; 
5 * 
