157 



CORVID.E. 



CORVID.E. 



158 





fruit, lastly grain, when nothing else can be got. It is an artful noisy 

 bird, proclaiming aloud any apparent danger, and thereby gives 

 notice to its associates. Neither the fox nor other wild animal can 

 appear without being observed and haunted ; even the fowler is 

 frequently spoiled of his sport, for all other birds seem to know the 

 alarming chatter of the magpie." 



Everywhere this bird is marked for destruction, and were it not 

 for its sagacity it would certainly long since have become extinct. 



This bird is common in Scotland. Although not known in Ireland 

 a century and half since, they are now common. This bird is very 

 common in Norway, where the inhabitants avoid destroying it. It 

 lives in Lapland, and is common in the Morea. It is also a native of 

 China and Japan. 



There are seveVal foreign species of .Pica. They occur both in the 

 Old and New World. 



Dendrocitta a genus founded by Mr. Gould, and comprehending 

 Pica vagabunda of Wagler, P. Sinemis of Hardwicke and Gray, and 

 a third species, which Mr. Gould believes to have been hitherto 

 unnoticed. 



It has the bill shorter than the head, cultrated, broad at the base ; 

 culmen arched, sides subtumid ; nostrils basal, partly covered with 

 setaceous feathers. Wings moderate : fifth and sixth quills longest. 

 Tail elongated, cuneated, the tail-feathers spatulate. Feet (tarsi) short 

 and weak: toes moderate; hallux strong, with a strong incurvated 

 claw. 



D. leucoffoitra. Black ; occupit, neck, transverse stripe at the base 

 of the quills, and abdomen, white ; scapulars, interscapular region 

 (interscapulio), and lower tail-coverts, tinged with chestnut (dilute 

 caataneis); two internal tail feathers ash-coloured, except at their tips. 



" The shortness and comparative feebleness of the tarsi in Dt-n- 

 drocilla, and its more elongated tail, the feathers of which are equally 

 graduated, except the two middle ones, which are much longer than 

 the others, distinguish it from the typical Pica; the common magpie, 

 for example. These characters are in accordance with its habit of 

 wandering from tree to tree in search of its food. It is farther 

 di-tinguished by the form of its bill. 



" All the species yet known are natives of Eastern Asia," (Gould, 

 'ZooL Proc.,' May 14th, 1833.) 



D. vagabunda, Pica rayabunda, Wagler. Head, neck, and crest, of 

 a smoke colour, or blackish gray ; the back light cinnamon ; the centre 

 of the wings gray ; the quills black ; the tail gray, each feather being 

 tipped largely with black ; under surface pale tawny ; beak and tarsi 

 black. Length 164 inches; beak 1J inch; tarsi 1J inch; tail 10 

 inches. The species is more widely diffused than any of its congeners, 

 being found in considerable abundance all over India. (Gould, 'Century 

 of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains.') 



\dv. Bill moderate, straight, with cutting edges, inclined, and 

 with obscure notches near the point. Tail even, sometimes rounded. 

 (Vieillot.) 



The Jays are inhabitants of the wooded districts, and live chiefly 

 upon fruits, principally acorns and such vegetable productions. They 

 rarely come into the open country, but make great havoc in gardens 

 and cultivated grounds in the neighbourhood of woodlands. Their 

 f'.'i.l is much less varied than that of the true crows; but they may 

 still be styled omnivorous. Their plumage is generally gay, and even 

 brilliant : the beautiful speculum on the wing is a leading character. 

 The manners of the foreign species are analogous to those of the 

 foreign magpies. Those of the Common Jay and its aptness at 

 imitation are well known. 



0. glanjariui, the Common Jay, is supposed by Belon to be 

 the MoAeutoKjxu/tiij of Aristotle; and we may observe, in con- 

 firmation of this opinion, that the editor of the last edition of 

 Pennant says, that the bird is very common in Greece, where it still 

 retains its ancient name, MoAaxoitpaixiis. Belon states it to be the 

 Gaza Ghiaudaia, or Ghiandara, the Gaza Verla, and the Berla, of 

 the Italians ; and the Prince of Canino gives GMandaja, Pica, 

 Pica ghiandajii, and Pica palombina as its Italian appellations. It 

 is the Jay and Geai of the French, the Eichen-Hiiher (Oak-Jay), 

 Holtzschryer (Wood-Cryer), or Holz-Hiiher, of the Germans; and 

 Screen y Coed of the Welsh. 



The Jay, like the Magpie, is too well known to require description. 

 Its beautiful colours make it one of the handsomest of our native 

 birds. It builds ita basket-like nest in trees or high coppice- wood and 

 hedges, and lays five or six eggs of a dull whitish olive, mottled very 

 obscurely with pale brown ; -towards the large end there are usually 

 two or three black lines. It is a sad enemy to gardeners. Fruits, 

 especially cherries, and peas are its great favourites, and it is fre- 

 quently taken by springes set upon the rows of peas when in bearing. 

 Dr. Kramer says that it will kill small birds. With regard to their 

 imitative powers, Bewick says, " We have heard one imitate the sound 

 made by the action of a saw so exactly, that though it was on a 

 Sunday, we could hardly be persuaded that the person who kept it had 

 not a carpenter at work in the house. Another, at the approach of 

 cattle, had learned to hound a cur dog upon them, by whistling and 

 calling upon him by his name. At last, during a severe frost, the dog 

 wag, by that means, excited to attack a cow big with calf, when the 

 poor animal fell on the ice, and was much hurt ; the jay was com- 

 plained of as a nuisance, and its owner was obliged to destroy it." 



Dr. Latham says he has seen two varieties ; the one pure white, the 

 other as in the Common Jay, but having the whole of the quills 

 white. 



The author last quoted states that this species, though not nearly 

 so for spread as the magpie, exists in various parts of the continent 

 of Europe, and that he has observed it among drawings done in 

 China. 



There are several foreign species, both of the New and Old World. 

 Mr. Gould, who figures three species in his ' Century of Birds,' well 

 observes that, "The close affinity which the Garrulus lanceolatus 

 bears to some species inhabiting the United States and Mexico is 

 worthy of remark, as a corroboration of the fact so often insisted on, 

 that similar forms of ornithology are found in countries widely 

 separated from each other, whose temperatures are alike." Indeed, 

 the last-mentioned bird immediately reminds the observer of the 

 Blue Jay (Garrulus cristatui) of America, while Garndus bispecularis 

 recalls the common jay to his recollection. 



Pica/hartea a genus founded by M. Lesson, who takes for the type 

 the Pie Chauve (Corvus yymnoccphalus of Temminck). 



It has the bill convex, not very robust, the upper inaudible higher 

 than the lower ; the latter a little swollen towards its extremity ; the 

 base entirely without hairs, and furnished with a cere. Nostrils 

 placed on the middle of the bill, oval, open, hollowed into an oblong 

 excavation. Head entirely naked. Feet (tarsi) long, but little 

 scutellated in front, naked behind; claws feeble; wings rounded, 

 short. Tail long, graduated. (Lesson.) 



" The form of this singular bird," says M. Temminck, " the cut of 

 its wings, and its long conical and very graduated tail, serve me as 

 indicia to judge by analogy of what country it may be a native, its 

 locality being unknown. In fact, on comparing our new species with 

 the Piapic of Le Vaillant (Cornts Seneyalensi), one is inclined, from 

 the marked analogy, to conclude Africa to be its country. Some data, 

 which it is nevertheless not prudent to trust, lead me to believe that 

 the only individual known, which is in the collection of Mr. Lead- 

 beater of London, was brought from the English possessions on the 

 coast of Guinea." 



" Proportions (taille) a little stronger, tarsi much longer, and a tail 

 less in proportion distinguish our bird from the Piapic. The head in 

 certain points offers some resemblance to that of the Qractda calva of 

 the Philippines, and this approximation is so strong that it would 

 produce doubts as to its African origin, if it did not bear a greater 

 resemblance in its general contour to the Piapic of Africa. In fine, 

 if this bird is not African, it can only be a native of the Philippine 

 Islands." 





Picathartn gijmnocefhuhis. 



Upon this passage M. Lesson remarks, that he does not find the 

 least analogy between the figure of the Eulum., 538, which is the 

 Corvia Senegalemis, and the Pie Chauve, which more resembles a 



