

..- . 



' 

 SPECIES 5. CORVUS PICA. 



MAGPIE. 



Tlate XXXV. Fig. 2.] 



& j 



Jlrct. Zool. JVo. 136. LATH. Syn. i, 392. BUFF, in, 85. PL Enl 

 488. PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 1333.* 



THIS bird is much better known in Europe than in this coun- 

 try, where it has not been long discovered; although it is now 

 found to inhabit a wide extent of territory, and in great num- 

 bers. The drawing was taken from a very beautiful specimen, 

 sent from the Mandan nation, on the Missouri, to Mr. Jefferson, 

 and by that gentleman to Mr. Peale of this city, in whose Mu- 

 seum it lived for several months, and where I had an opportu- 

 nity of examining it. On carefully comparing it with the Eu- 

 ropean Magpie in the same collection, no material difference 

 could be perceived. The figure in the plate is reduced to ex- 

 actly half the size of life. 



This bird unites in its character courage and cunning, turbu- 

 lency and rapacity. Not inelegantly formed, and distinguished 

 by gay as well as splendid plumage, he has long been noted in 

 those countries where he commonly resides, and his habits and 

 manners are there familiarly known. He is particularly perni- 

 cious to plantations of young oaks, tearing up the acorns; and 

 also to birds, destroying great numbers of their eggs and young, 

 even young chickens, partridges, grous and pheasants. It is 

 perhaps on this last account that the whole vengeance of the 

 game laws has lately been let loose upon him, in some parts of 

 Britain; as appears by accounts from that quarter, where pre- 



* We add the following synonymes: Corvus pica, LINN. Syst. ed. 10, i, p. 

 106. GMEL. Syst. i, p. 373. LATH. Ind. Orn. p. 162. La Pie, BHISS. Orn, 

 vvl. IT, p. 35. TEMM. Man. d'Qrn, i, p. 113. 

 VOL. I. 3 C 



