292 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



[95.] 3. Corvus pica. (Linn.) The Magpie. 



Genus, Corvus, Linn. 



Corvus pica. Fokst. Phil. Trans., lxii., p. 387, No. 11. 



Magpie. Penn. Arct. Zool., ii., p. 247, No. 130. Wils., iv., p. 75, pi. 35, f. 2. 



Corvus Hudsonius. Sab. Frankl. Journ., p. 67L 



Corvus pica. Bonap. Syn., p. 57, No. 02. 



Shepecum-mewuck, Maskegons. Ootaw-kee-askee, Cree Indians. 



This bird, so common in Europe, is equally plentiful in the interior prairie 

 lands of America ; but it is singular that, though it abounds on the shores of 

 Sweden and other maritime parts of the Old World, it is very rare on the Atlantic- 

 coasts of America or near Hudson's Bay : only stray individuals passing to the 

 eastward of the Mississippi or of Lake Winipeg. Mr. Say informs us that it 

 winters on the Missouri, and takes its departure northwards on the 23rd of 

 March. It does not entirely quit the banks of the Saskatchewan even in winter; 

 but is much more frequent in the summer. On comparing its eggs with those 

 of the European bird, they are found to be longer and narrower ; and though 

 the colours are the same, the blotches are larger and more diffused*. The 

 manners of the American bird are precisely the same that we are accustomed 

 to observe in the English one'f"- 



DESCRIPTION 

 Of a specimen, killed on the Saskatchewan, 20th May, 1827. 



Colour. — Scapulars, band on the rump, belly, and inner webs of the greater quills pure 

 white, the latter partially edged with black. Rest of the plumage velvet-black, with metallic 

 reflections on various parts, particularly the forehead and tail, of emerald and duck greens, 

 pansy-purple, steel-blue, and gold-yellow. Bill, irides, and legs black. 



Lin. Inch. Lin. 



9 Length of middle claw . 6§ 



„ of hind toe . .0 6J 



1 ,, of its claw . 0J 



Ten specimens, of both sexes, varied only half an inch in total length, the tail being the 

 same in all : the bills of most were somewhat shorter than the above. 



Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. 



* American eggs, length ..13^ Breadth ..07 



English eggs, „ . . 1 2| „ . . 7f 



f We have been able to compare English and Arctic specimens with one from the interior of China, kindly commu- 

 nicated by Mr. Gray, and we cannot perceive the slightest difference whereon to build even the character of a variety, 

 much less of a species. The tails of the Arctic specimens are very beautiful. — Sw. 









Dimensions. 







Inch. 



Lin. 





Inch 



Length, total 



20 







Length of bill to rictus 



. 1 



,, of tail 



. 12 



3 



,, of tarsus 



2 



„ of wing 



. 8 







„ of middle toe 



. 1 



,, of bill above 



1 



5 







