CORVID.'E — THE CHOWS. 267 



Eichardson observed these birds on the Saskatchewan, wliere a few remain 

 even in winter, bnt are much more freiiuent in summer. 



Mr. Lord, the naturalist of tlie British braneli of the Nortliwest Boundary 

 Survey, cliaracterizes our Magpie as murderous, because of its cruel persecu- 

 tion of galled and suffering nmles, its picking out tlio eyes of living animals, 

 and its destruction of birds. These birds caused so nmch troulile to the 

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

 number were destroyed by strychnine. They were then so tame and 

 im])udent tliat he repeatedly gave them food from his hand without their 

 showing any evidence of fear. He says they nest in JMarcli. 



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

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

 dred miles west of Kort Union, at the mouth of the Yellowstone. It became 

 more abundant as the mountains were ajjproached, and so continued almost 

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

 eflectual barrier. On l>uget Sound lie saw none until August, after which, 

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

 terior. He obtained a young bird, nearly fledged, al)out May 5, at Fort 

 Dalles. At this place a i'ew birds remailn throughout the winter, but a 

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

 says, re.sembles a peculiar call of Steller's Jay. 



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

 con.spioious birds of the interior region, distinguished both lor the elegance 

 of its form aiul tlie beauty of its })lumage. Wiiile not at all rare in tiie 

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

 land of the rivers. The usual note of the Magpie is a fre(piently uttered 

 chatter, very i)eculiar, and, when once heard, easily recognized. During the 

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

 ing sometliing like kai/-c-ehk-lvij-c. It generally Hies about in snudl Hocks, 

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

 in com]tany witli the Itavens, it resorts to the slaughter-houses to feed on offal. 

 Th(^ yonng differ but little in plumage from the adult, the metallic colors 

 biMiig even a little more vivid ; the white spotting of tlie throat is charac- 

 teristic of tlie immature bird. 



Tlie m!sts were found by ]\Ir. Ridgway in various situaticuis. Some wens 

 in cedars, some in willows, and others in low shrul).s. In every instance the 

 nest was domed, the inner and real nest being enclosed in an immense thorny 

 covering, which I'ar exceeded it in bulk. In the side of this thorny yu'otection 

 is a winding pa.s.sage leading into the nest, possibly designed to conceal the 

 very long tail of the Itird, which, if exposed to view, would endanger its safety. 



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

 Yakima, and from there in his joui'ney northward as far as the 4".ltli degree; 

 it was common, as well as in all tiie o]ien unwooded regions until the 

 mountains were passed on his return westward. 



