CORVID.E — THE CROWS. 267 



Richardson observed these birds on the Saskatchewan, where a few remain 

 even in winter, but are much more frei^uent in sunnner. 



Mr. Lord, tlie naturalist of the British brancli of the Xorthvest Boundarv 

 Survey, characterizes our Ma«ipie as murderous, because of its cruel persecu- 

 tion of galled and sutfering mules, its picking out the eyes of living animals, 

 and its destruction of birds. These birds caused so much trouble to tlie 

 party, in winter, at Colville, as to become utterly unbearable, and a large 

 number were destroyed by strychnine. They were then s(j tame and 

 impudent tliat he repeatedly gave thorn food from his hand without their 

 showing any evidence of fear. He says they nest in ^larch. 



Dr. Suckley states that this Magi)ie is abundant throughout the central 

 region of Oregon and Washington Territory. He first met with it a hun- 

 dred miles west of Fort Union, at the mouth of the Yellowstone. It Ijecame 

 more abundant as the mountains were ai)proached, and so continued almost 

 as far west as the Cascade Mountains, where the dense forests were an 

 eflectual barrier. On Tuget Scjund he saw none until August, after which, 

 during the fall, it was tolerably abundant. It breeds throughout the in- 

 terior. He obtained a young bird, nearly fledged, about May u, at Fort 

 Dalles. At this place a few birds remahi throughout the winter, but a 

 majority retire farther south during the cold weather. One of its cries, he 

 says, resembles a i)eculiar call of Steller's Jay. 



Mr. Iiidgway regards this Magpie as one of the most characteristic and 

 conspicuous birds of the inteiior region, distinguished both ior the elegance 

 of its form and the beauty of its plumage. While not at all rare in the 

 fertile mountain canons, the princi])al resort of this species is the rich bottom- 

 land of the rivers. The usual note of the Magpie is a frecpiently uttered 

 chatter, very peculiar, and, when once heard, easily recognized. During the 

 nesting-season it utters a softer and more musical and plaintive note, sound- 

 ing something like hai/-€-thl-hnj-c. It generally flies about in small flocks, 

 and, like otliers of its family, is very fond of tormenting owls. In tlie winter, 

 in com])any with the Uavens, it resorts to the slaughter-houses to feed on oll'al. 

 Tlie young differ but little in plumage from the adult, the metallic colors 

 being even a little n.ore vivid ; the white spotting of the throat is charac- 

 teristic of the innnature l)ird. 



The m^sts were found by Mr. Iiid,g\vay in various situations. Some were 

 in cedars, some in willows, j.nd others in low shrubs. In every instance the 

 nest was domed, the inner and real nest hc'nvj, enclosed in an immense thornv 

 coverin'ji, which far exceeded it in bulk. In the side of this thornv inotection 

 is a winding passage leading into the nest, possildy designed to conceal the 

 very long tail of tlie bird, which, if exposed to view, would endanger its safety. 



Dr. Cooper first met this bird east of the Cascade Mountains, near the 

 Yakima, and from there in his journey northward as fi»r as the 40th degree 

 it was connnon, as well as in all tlie o]kmi unwooded regions imtil the 

 mountains were passed on his return westward. 



