MAGPIE, 247 



corn of the country, the new-fown maize ; and, when it ripens, do 

 pick a hole in the leaves which furround the ears, expofing it to 

 corruption, by letting in the rain. The inhabitants o^ Penfylvania 

 and New Jerjey were wont to profcribe them, fetting three pence or 

 four pence on the head of each Crow ; but the law was foon re- ' 

 pealed, becaufe of the great expence it brought on the public ftock*. 

 Mr. Kalm alfo remarks this agreement with the Rook fpecies, that 

 they fettle much on trees, both in February and the fpring. 



Thefe birds are fo rare in Sweden, that Linnaus gives only one in- 

 flance of its being killed in his country. Yet it is found in the 

 diocek of Droniheim, and in the jp^ro^ iflands. They are fcarce in 

 Ruffia ; and only in the north. Grow more common in Sibiria, 

 and are found plentifully beyond the Lena, where the Hooded Crow 

 ceafes. Was obferved about Botany Bay, in New Holland ; and is met- 

 with in the Philifpne ifles-f^- 



Br. Zool. 1. N° 78. — Latham; 1. 392. — De Baffm, iii- 85. J36. Magpie, 



Corvus Pica, Skata, Skiura, Skara, Faun.Suec. N' 92. — Lev. Mvsw 



^ Variegated with black and white, the black moft beautifully 

 gloffed with green and purple : the tail very long, cuneiform, 

 black, refplendent with the fame rich colors as. the body. Length 

 eighteen inches : weight nine ounces. 



Vifits Hudjon's Bay; where the natives call it Que ta-kee AJke, or the 

 Heart-bird. It migrates, and but feldom appears there J, 



Is found in Europe, as high as Wardhuys, in lat. 7 1 f . . It is efteemed PtAC'Ei. 



there an augural bird. If it perches on the church, it is fuppofed to 

 portend the death or removal of the minifter: if on the caftle, that 

 of the governor. II . The Magpies fwarm in the temperate parts of 

 Rujfia. Common in Sibiria, and even as far' as Kamtjchatka, and the- 

 ifles. 



» Voyage, ii. 65. f: De Buffgn^ iii, 66^. t ^hik TranJ, Ixii. 387;' 



WiLeems, 24!. 



Goryus,s 



