122 CORVID2E. 



white ; the scapulars pure white ; wing-coverts and tertials 

 of a fine shining blue ; the primaries black, with an elon- 

 gated patch of pure white on the inner web of each of the 

 first ten feathers ; the tail graduated, the outside feather on 

 each side not exceeding five inches in length, the middle 

 ones nearly eleven inches long, in colour beautifully irides- 

 cent, with blue and purple near the end, and green from 

 thence to the base. Chin and throat black, the shafts of 

 some of the feathers shining greyish white ; upper part of 

 the breast black ; the lower part of the breast, the belly, 

 sides, and flanks, pure white ; under tail-coverts black ; 

 under surface of tail-feathers uniform dull black ; thighs, 

 legs, toes, and claws, black. 



The whole length of an adult male is full eighteen 

 inches, of which the longest tail-feathers measure nearly 

 eleven inches. The wing from the carpal joint to the end 

 of the longest primary, seven inches and one quarter : the 

 first feather only two inches and a half long ; the second 

 about one inch shorter than the third ; the fourth, fifth, 

 and sixth feathers nearly equal in length, but the fifth is 

 rather the longest. The wing, it will be observed, is 

 shorter and less pointed than that of the true Crows, and 

 the flight of the bird is different ; the vibrations are quick, 

 are given in rapid succession, and apparently with more 

 effort. On the ground this bird progresses either by walk- 

 ing or hopping. 



The female is smaller in size, the tail is shorter, and the 

 plumage less brilliant. 



Specimens varying in the colour of their plumage occur 

 occasionally. 



Malformations of the beak, similar to that represented in 

 the vignette at page 94, and still further approaching the 

 form of the mandibles in the true Crossbills, have occurred 

 in the Magpie ; and Mr. John Blackwall, in his published 



