CROWS, JAYS, ETC. 267 



he soars in the air, after the manner of the European 

 Skylark. 



MAGPIE 



The Magpie is a handsome scamp. Like the Canada 

 jay, he is a born thief and has the same sneaking ways 

 wliich other members of the crow family possess. Magpies 

 usually confine themselves to rough or mountainous regions, 

 chiefly from New Mexico, Colorado, and Montana west- 

 ward to the coast. The only other species common to the 

 American continent is the yellow-billed Magpie, inhabiting 

 the coast region of southern California. 



Magpies are long-billed birds, probably handsomer than 

 other members of the family except the jays. The flight, 

 Hke that of the blue jay, is straight, horizontal, and slow. 

 They are very fond of feeding on the carcasses of sheep 

 and cattle. While collecting over the stock ranges in the 

 Yellowstone region of Montana, I always encountered mag- 

 pies about the herders' camps. These birds are not so noisy 

 as many jays, despite the fact we often hear the expres- 

 sion, "chatter like magpies." The birds are mischievous in 

 captivity, though they are intelligent and may be taught 

 to speak. 



The nests are remarkably large for the size of the birds. 

 Like the oven bird and marsh wren, the nests are covered, 

 and the only entrance is through a little hole on the side. 

 These nests, usually placed close to the trunk of a tree, 

 preferably a willow along creek bottoms and in canons, are 

 made of twigs and hay, lined with any soft substance avail- 

 able, such as wool, hair, and grass. 



