54 Wyoming Birds. 



474c. Otocoris alpestris leucolaema: Desert Horned Lark. 



The most abundant resident of the plains region, going in 

 great flocks in the winter. At this time the Snow-flake is 

 found with them. 



CO.'RVI'DAE. (Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc.). 



The Crows and Magpies are not among the protected birds in 

 most states, and there seems to be no good reason to create a 

 sentiment in their favor, although it is probable that the harm 

 which they do in destroying eggs and grain and committing other 

 depredations is balanced by the good they do in destroying small 

 mammals, carrion, and injurious insects, grubs, etc. Young pet 

 crows have been known to keep the cabbage patch free from the 

 larvae of the cabbage butterfly. The crow has the habit of pulling 

 up young corn and other growing grain. Later in the season he 

 tears open the husk of the young ears and destroys the corn before 

 it is mature. He is also fond of eggs and young birds. 



The Magpie has even a worse record. He eats many birds' 

 eggs and young birds and attacks wounded animals. He also 

 steals the hunters' lunch and game. He is by nature a thief and a 

 murderer. 



The Blue Jay's habits are less open to criticism. He prefers 

 nuts to all other food (beech nuts and acorns). They constitute 

 40 per cent of his food. Jays frequently eat corn and various 

 kinds of small fruit, such as blackberries and raspberries, mulber- 

 ries, and currants. Like the crow, the jays are sometimes guilty 

 of robbing birds' nests of eggs or young. They also capture many 

 injurious insects and are as a rule considered beneficial. 



References : 



1. Biological Survey Bulletin No. 54, pp. 15-17, 18-19. 



2. Year Book of the Department of Agriculture, 1900, p. 424. 



3. Year Book of the Department of Agriculture, 1907, pp. 171- 



172. 



4. "Birds in Their Relation to Man," Weed and Dearborn, pp. 



167-173. 



475. Pica pica hudsonia: Magpie. 



An abundant bird found, from the plains well up into the 

 mountains wherever brush or timber exists. 



