BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE MAGPIE. 



PI A NET. 



(Garruhts Picus, Temm. Pic, Temm.) 



LENGTH about eighteen inches. Bill strong and 

 black; eyes hazel; head, neck, back, breast, and tail 

 coverts deep black, forming a fine contrast with the 

 snowy whiteness of the under parts and scapulars ; 

 the neck feathers are long, as are also those on the 

 back, which extend towards the rump, leaving 

 only a small space of ash-grey, between them and 

 the tail coverts ; the plumage in general is glossed 

 with green, purple, and blue, which catch the eye 

 in different lights, and are particularly resplendent 

 on the tail, which is very long, and rather wedge- 

 shaped ; vent, under tail coverts, thighs, and legs 

 black: on the throat 'and part of the neck the 

 feathers are mixed with others, resembling strong 

 whitish hairs. 



