No. 7. 
AMERICAN MAGPIE. 
A. O. U. No. 475. Pica pica hudsonia (Sabine). 
Synonym.—BLaAck-BILLED MAGPIE. 
Description.—dAdults: Lustrous black with violet, purplish, green, and 
bronzy iridescence, brightest on wings and tail; an elongated scapular patch pure 
white; lower breast, upper abdomen, flanks and sides broadly pure white; 
primaries extensively white on inner web; a broad band on rump with large 
admixture of white; tail narrowly graduated thru.terminal three-fifths; bill and 
feet black; iris black. } owng birds lack iridescence on head and are elsewhere 
duller ; relative length of tail sure index of age in juvenile specimens. Length of 
adults 15.00-20.00, of which tail 8.00-12.00 (Av. 265); wing 7.85 (200) ; bill 
1.35 (35-); tarsus 1.85 (47). 
Recognition Marks.—Black-and-white plumage with long tail unmistakable. 
Nesting.—Nest: normally a large sphere of interlaced sticks, ‘as big as a 
bushel basket,’ placed 5-40 feet high in willow, aspen, grease-wood or pine. The 
nest proper is a contained hemisphere of mud 8-10 inches across inside, and with 
walls 1-2 inches in thickness, carefully lined for half its depth with twigs sur- 
mounted by a mat of fine rootlets. Eggs: 7 or 8, rarely 10, pale grayish green, 
quite uniformly freckled and spotted with olive green or olive brown. Occasion- 
ally spots nearly confluent in heavy ring about larger end, in which case remainder 
of egg likely to be less heavily marked than usual. Shape variable, rounded 
ovate to elongate ovate. Av. size, 1.20 x .88 (30.5 x 22.3). Season: March 20- 
May 1; one brood. 
General Range.—Western North America chiefly in treeless or sparsely 
timbered areas from southern Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas north to 
northwestern Alaska. Straggles eastward to west shore of Hudson Bay, and 
occurs casually in North Central States, Nebraska, etc. Replaced in California 
west of the Sierras by Pica nuttalli. 
Range in Washington.—Confined to East-side during breeding season, 
where of nearly universal distribution. Disappears along east slope of Cascades 
and does not deeply penetrate the mountain valleys. Migrates regularly but 
sparingly thru mountain passes to West-side at close of breeding season. 
Authorities.—[ Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. (1814) Ed. Biddle: Coues, Vol. 
Il. p. 185.] Pica hudsonica Bonap., Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. pt. II. 
fesse) es7e) ls C&S? Rhy Dt Ras D2. Ss, Ss2. J. By. 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) P. Prov. B. E. BN. 
HERE is another of those rascals in feathers who keep one alternately 
grumbling and admiring. As an abstract proposition one would not stake 
a sou marquee on the virtue of a Magpie; but taken in the concrete, with a 
sly wink and a saucy tilt of the tail, one will rise to his feet, excitedly 
shouting, “Go it, Jackity,” and place all his earnings on this pie-bald steed 
in the race for avian honors. It is impossible to exaggerate this curious 
contradiction in Magpie nature, and in our resulting attitude towards it. 
It is much the same with the mischievous small boy. He has surpassed the 
