8 THE CROW FAMILY 



MAGPIE [Pica pica (L.) ; P. rustica (Scop.). Mag, meggit, pyet, pyat, 

 pyanet, pyot, nan-pie, longtailed-nan, haggister, egglift. French, pie; 

 German, Elster ; Italian, gazza], 



1. Description. Easily recognised by its black and white plumage and long 

 wedge-shaped tail. The black is glossed with blue, purple, and green. Length 

 18 in. [456*8 mm.]. (PI. 5.) Female smaller. The young much duller. [F. B. K.] 



2. Distribution and Migration. As a species it is found not only 

 throughout Europe, but also in North-west Africa, the temperate parts of Asia to 

 Japan and western N. America. The typical race is generally distributed over 

 the Continent of Europe, but the Spanish birds belong to a local race, and a third 

 form inhabits North-west Africa ; while it is entirely absent from Sardinia and 

 Corsica. It is very generally distributed in all wooded districts of the British 

 Isles except where it has been exterminated by game preservers, although it 

 was unknown in Ireland previous to 1676, and is naturally scarce in the barren 

 districts of North Scotland. [F. c. R. J.] 



3. Nest and Eggs. Nests : generally high up in a tree, but also not uncom- 

 monly in hedges and thorny bushes, while in Norway and Jutland it is occasion- 

 ally found under the eaves of houses and even on the ground. The nest is very 

 conspicuous in the spring, built of sticks and earth, lined with fine roots, and 

 occasionally with hair, and generally with a dome of thorny sticks. (PI. II.) Both 

 sexes share in its construction, but, according to Mr. F. C. R. Jourdain, the cock 

 confines himself to carrying material. The eggs, 5-8, and sometimes 9-10, in number, 

 are greenish blue to greenish yellow and buff speckled, with various shades of 

 greyish brown. (PL A.) Average size of 100 eggs, T29 x '9 in. [32'9 x 23 mm.]. 

 Laying usually begins in April, sometimes earlier. Both sexes incubate. Period 

 of incubation 18 days in an incubator (W. Evans, Ibis, 1891). The young remain 

 in the nest 26-30 days (Xavier Raspail, Ornis, 1902-3 ; S. E. Brock, in litt.). 

 One brood. [F. c. R. J. F. B. K.] 



4. Food. Like its congeners, practically omnivorous. The young are fed 

 by both parents on insects, worms, small rodents, young birds, etc. [F. B. K.] 



5. Song Period. See p. 56. 



JAY \Gdrrulus glanddrius (Linnaeus). Jay-pyat, blue- wing. French, geai ; 

 German, Eichelhaher.'] 



i. Description. Distinguished by the reddish-fawn back, conspicuous white 

 rump, and the patch of alternating black, white, and blue on the wing. Length 



