478 



AVES— MAGPIE. 



There is a variety of this bird in Switzerland, Avhich has a white collar 

 round its neck ; and in Norway and otlier cold countries, they have been 

 found perfectly white. Thoy are not found in America. 



THE MAGPIEi 



Is about eighteen inches in length. The head, neck, and breast are of a 

 deep black, finely contrasting with the snowy Avhiteness of the under parts ; 

 the neck feathers are very long, and extend down the back, leaving only a 

 small space, of a grayish ash color, between them and the tail coverts, which 

 are black ; the plumage in general is glossed with green, purple, and blue, 

 v/hich catch the eye in different lights; the tail is very long and wedge- 

 shaped ; the under tail-coverts, thighs, and legs, are black ; on the throat 

 and part of the neck, there is a kind of feathers, mixed Avith the others, re- 

 sembling strong whitish hairs. Indeed, were its other accomplishments 

 equal to its beauty, few birds could be put in competition. Its black, its 

 white, its green, and purple, with the rich and gilded combination of the 



1 Corvus pica, Lin. 



