576 



U. S. p. E R, EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



PICA, Brisson. 



Coracias, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1735. Gray. 



Pica, Erisson, Ornithologia, 1760, and of Cuvier, (Agassiz.) Type Corvus pica, L. 



Cissa, Barrere, " Orn. Spec, novum, 1745." 



Cleptes, Gameel, J. A. N. Sc. 2d Ser. I, 1847, 47. 



Ch. — Tail very long, forming much more than half the total length ; the feathers much graduated ; the lateral scarcely 

 more than half the middle. First primary falcate, curved, and attenuated. Bill about as high as broad at the base; the 

 culmen and gonys much curved, and about equal ; the bristly feathers reaching nearly to the middle of the bill. Nostrils nearly 

 circular. Tarsi very long ; middle toe scarcely more than two-thirds the length. A patch of naked sltin beneath and behind 

 the eye. 



The peculiar characteristic of this genus, in addition to the very long graduated tail, lies in 

 the attenuated, falcate first primary. Calocitta, which has an equally lopg or longer tail, has 

 the first primary as in the jays generally, (besides having the nostrils exposed.) 



A specimen of P. nuttalli has the lateral tarsal plates with two or three transverse divisions, 

 on the lower third. This does not occur in P. hudsonica. 



The bill of Pica, in every respect, is very similar to that of Corvus, except that it is shorter. 

 The bristly feathers are also alike. The nostrils are smaller, more nearly circular; the axis not 

 oblique, nor the anterior margin scooped out, as in Corvus. 



The two North American species are readily distinguished by the black bill in hudsonica, 

 and the yellow one of nuttalli. 



The first distinct name applied to the magpies is Coracias, Linnaeus, in 1735. Both this and 

 Cissa, of Barrere, appear to have been proposed before Pica, of Brisson. Why Mr. Gray has 

 passed by both these names I do not know, but presume he had some good reason for so doing. 

 He rejects Pica, on account of its similarity to Picus, and takes Dr. Gambel's name of Cleptes, 

 1847. 



Without the original references before me, I follow Mr. Gray in passing over Coracias and 

 Cissa, but retain Pica, as sufficiently dissimilar from Picus. 



Comparative measurements of species. 



PICA HUDSONICA, Bo nap. 

 Magpie. 



Corvus pica, Forstek, Phil. Trans. LXXII, 1772, 382.— Wilson, Am. Orn. IV, 1811, 75 ; pi. xxxv.— Eon. Obs. 

 Wils. 1825, No. 40.— Ib. Syn. 1828, 57.— Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 219 —Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 

 408 ; pi. 357. Not of Linnaeus. 

 Corvus hudsonica, Jos. Sabine, App. Narr. Franklin's Journey, 1823, 25, 671. 



Picus hudsonica, Bonap. List, 1838.— Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 383. — Maxim. Reise Nord. Amer. I, 1839, 508. Ib. 



Cabanis' Journ. 1856, 197.— Newberry, Zool. Cal. & Or. Route, Rep. P. R, R, VI, iv, 1857 

 84. 

 dleples liudsonicus, Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. 2d Ser. 1, Dec. 1847, 47. 

 Pica melanoleuca, " Vieill." Aud. Syn. 1839, 157.— Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 99 ; pi. 227. 



