214 ZOOLOGY. 



European species. They are very much disliked by the frontier traders and mountain men of 

 interior Oregon on account of their vile propensity to alight on the sore backs of broken-down 

 and chafed horses or mules, most unceremoniously picking and feeding upon the raw, sore 

 flesh, notwithstanding the moans, kicks, and rolling of the poor tortured animals. In this 

 manner many disabled beasts have been most irretrievably injured, and probably a vast 

 number even killed. It is said that the mountain men and trappers of former times so hated 

 this bird, on account of its evil propensity for horse flesh, that when one of them possessed 

 but two bullets he was sure to fire one at a magpie if he had an opportunity. These birds breed 

 throughout the interior. I obtained a young individual, nearly fledged, about May, 6, 1855, 

 at Fort Dalles. 



As with other birds of the genus, carrion affords its principal food. The dead cattle, so 

 numerous along the great Oregon emigrant trail some years ago, afforded them an abundant 

 supply of food during half the year. The species is partially migratory. At Port Dalles I saw a 

 few magpies staying throughout the winter. The majority of them, however, retire further 

 south during the cold season. 



One of the chattering cries of our magpie resembles much a peculiar call uttered by a Steller's 



jay- 



I have never observed the yellow-billed magpie in Oregon. 



When in the Rocky mountains I frequently noticed these birds assembling on the trees around 

 us, just before we were to leave our camp. Instinct, or, perhaps, experience, had taught them 

 that on our departure they would have "full swing" at the rinds of bacon and other culinary 

 refuse of the deserted camp. — S. 



I first met with the magpie east of the Cascade mountains, near the Yakima, and from there, 

 in our journey northward to the 49th degree, it was common, as well as in all the open unwooded 

 regions, until we again passed the mountains on our return westward. I saw nothing of it at 

 Vancouver during the winter, which was severe enough to cause a migration of several other 

 species of birds towards the coast. In the spring of 1855 I heard that magpies had been on 

 Whitby's island during the winter, but none remained in March. I suppose, therefore, that a 

 few migrate to the westward in winter. I have heard of magpies frequenting the Columbia 

 river at Astoria, and near the mouth of the Willamette, in summer. I have never seen these; 

 but think they may be stragglers of the Californian species, which have followed the plains of 

 the Willamette to its outlet. Both species inhabit open regions, and the dense forests of the 

 lower Columbia must be very ill suited for their resorts. I have never found the magpies on 

 the upper Columbia as familiar as they have been represented to be in winter. In summer 

 they seemed rather shy, frequenting the thickets along streams and being commonly silent. — C. 



CYANURA STELLERI, Swain son. 



Steller*s Jay, 



2_ ^ Corvus stdleri, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 370.— Lath. Ind. Cm. I, 1790, 158.— Pallas, Zoog. EoBSO-As. I, 1811 



393.— BoNAP. Zool. Jour. Ill, 18-27, 49.— Ib. Suppl. Syn. 1828, 433.— Aud. Cm. Biog. IV, 1838, 

 453; pi. 362. 

 Garrulus stelleri, Vieillot, Diet. XII, 1817, 481. — Bonap. Am. Orn. II, 1628, 44; pi. xiii. — Nuttall, Man. 1, 1832, 

 229.— Aud. Syn. 1S39, 154.— Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 107; pi. 230. Not of Swaineon, F. Bor. 

 Amer. ? 



