104 



YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE. 



+ PlCA NlJTTALLII, */2ud. 

 PLATE CCXX VIII.— Adult. 



I have conferred on this beautiful bird the name of a most zealous, learned, 

 and enterprising naturalist, my friend Thomas Ntjttall, Esq., to whom the 

 scientific world is deeply indebted for the many additions to our zoological 

 and botanical knowledge which have resulted from his labours. It is to him 

 alone that we owe all that is known respecting the present species, which 

 has not hitherto been portrayed. In a note inserted by him in my journal, 

 he says: 



"As we proceed to the south in Upper California, around the village of 

 Sta. Barbara, we find the Common Magpie substituted by this remarkable 

 species, which is much more shy and cautious, as well as more strictly 

 insectivorous. It utters, however, nearly if not quite the same chatter. In 

 the month of April they were everywhere mated, and had nearly completed 

 their nests in the evergreen oaks of the vicinity (Quercus agrifolia). The 

 only one I saw was situated on a rather high tree, towards the summit, and 

 much concealed among the thick and dark branches. Their call was pait, 

 pait; and on approaching each other, a low congratulatory chatter was 

 heard. After being fired at once, it seemed nearly impossible again to 

 approach them within gun-shot. When alighted in the thick oaks, they 

 remained for a considerable time silent, and occasionally even wholly hid 

 themselves; but after awhile the call of recognition was again renewed, and 

 if the pair then met, they would often fly off a mile or more, without stop- 

 ping, in quest of insects. We often saw them on the ground, but never near 

 the offal of the oxen, so attractive to the Crows and Ravens around." 



Corvus Nuttall, Yellow-billed Magpie, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 450. 



Bill and bare space beneath the eyes yellow; in form, proportion, and size, 

 similar to the Common Magpie; the feathers of the tail narrower; the 

 colours similar, but the top of the head glossed with green, and the black of 

 the back and fore neck tinged with brown. 



Male, 18; wing, 7f. 



Upper California. Common. Resident. 



