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7%e Magpy or Pianet. Pica Varia Caudata. /' /} <^ 



Numb. XV. 



IT7. 



ITS Length from the Tip of the BUI to the End of the Tail is 18 Inches and a half. 

 Breadth when the Wings are expanded 23 Inches and a half; Weight is 8 Ounces and 

 5 Drams ; Bill i Inch and three quarters, black, thick and ftrong, the upper Chap fome- 

 what crooked and fharp-pointed ; the Tongue cloven at the End, and black; the Sides of 

 theFilTure of the Palate rough with Hair like Excrefcences ; the Noftrils round, and be- 

 fet with refleiled briftly Hairs ; the Iridei of the Eyes are of a pale Hazel Colour, in the 

 nidating Membranes is feen a yellow Spot, 



The Head, Neck, Back, Rump and lower Belly are of a black Colour; the lower 

 Part of the Back near the Rump is more dilute, and inclining to cinereous ; the Breail 

 and Sides are white, as alfo the firft Joint of the Wing ; the Wings are fmaller than the 

 Bignefs of the Body would feem to require. The Tail and prime Feathers of the Wings 

 glifter with very beautiful Colours (but obfcure) of green, purple and blue mingled, like 

 thofe of the Rainbow, only in the exterior Vanes, the Number of Beam Feathers are 20, 

 of which the outmoft is fhorter by half than the fecond, the fecond than the third, and 

 the third fliortcr than the fourth, but not by an equal Defed:, the fourth and fifth are 

 the longeft of all ; the eleven foremoft about their middle Part on the Infide of the Shaft 

 are white, the white Part from the extreme Feather gradually decreafing, till in the tenth 

 it be contraded into a great Spot only. 



The Tail is made up of 12 Feathers, of which the two middlemofl are the longeft, 

 being by Meafurc eight and a half or nine Inches long, the two next them above an Inch 

 fhorter, and fo the reft in Proportion ; the middle Feathers of the Tail have their Bottoms 

 green, their Middles blue, and their Tops of a purple Colour. 



The Feet and Claws are black, the loweft Bone of the outmofl Fore-toe is joined to 

 that of the middle. 



The Length of the Gut was 24 Inches, of the blind Guts half an Inch ; it hath a Gall 

 Bladder and a long Spleen, the Stomach not very flefhy, and having its Echinus. 



This Bird is eafily taught to fpeak, and more plainly when the String of his Tongue is 

 cut, and imitates Man's Voice very articulately; they are very mifchievous when let out 

 of their Cages, ftealing and hiding every Thing they can carry away. 



They build their Nefts in Trees with great Art and Cunning, fencing them round on 

 the Out-fide both above and below with fharp Thorns, leaving only one Hole for them- 

 fclves to pafs in and out. It lays 6 or 8 Eggs at once, feldom more, greater and paler 

 than the Crows, and very thick fpotted with black. 



Its Food is Infeds of the Grub and Beetle Kind, Flefh of Beafts, and fometimes it will 

 fet upon fmall Birds, and kill and devour them. 



"The 



