122 



THE CONDOR 



Vol. XIX 



full sets, is nearly seven (6.85). The average number of young from eight 

 nests is decidedly less, being not quite five (4.75). Probably the smaller num- 

 ber of young than eggs per nest is due to the failure to hatch of one or more of 

 the eggs in each set. 



The earliest record of eggs is the set of nine eggs found on March 26, 1905, 

 while the latest that eggs were found still unhatched was April 22, 1906. Naked 

 young were found on April 8, 1906, while in another nest feathered young were 

 still in the nest on May 17 of the same year. By late summer the young have 

 become fully grown and cannot be distinguished in appearance from the older 

 birds. 



The nests are bulky structures composed chiefly of a bushel or more of 



coarse sticks. They are placed 

 from four to thirty feet high in 

 the branches of a tree. Thorny 

 groAvths are preferred, although 

 orchard trees, locusts, cotton- 

 woods, or practically any tree 

 may be utilized. The nest is com- 

 pletely arched over the top with 

 the sticks, only one opening, or 

 at most, two, just large enough to 

 admit the bird into the large cen- 

 tral space, being left on the sides. 

 Many of the sticks used in build- 

 ing the nest are thorny, so the 

 structure makes an excellent de- 

 fense for the eggs and young, as 

 well as for the bird on the nest. 

 The nest cup is made of some- 

 what smaller twigs than the rest 

 of the nest and is thickly plas- 

 tered with mud. On the inside 

 it is thickly lined with dried 

 grasses. In one case the lining- 

 was made of dry pine needles, 

 but pines are absent from Walla 

 Walla County, except the feAv 

 that "have been planted for 

 shade. 



In spite of the protection offered by the structure of their nest, at least one 

 brood of young magpies was attacked by some enemy. This nest, on April 22, 

 1906, held five naked young birds and one egg. The egg later hatched, making 

 six nestlings. However, on May 2, there were only four young birds in the nest, 

 all still much too young to fly, and one of these had a badly lacerated wing. 



The parent magpies are vociferous in the defense of their nests. Both male 

 and female will closely approach an intruder, scolding with all their might, 

 though at other times of the year they are notably shy and difficult to ap- 

 proach within gun-shot range. In one case at least, the same nest was used 

 more than once. In this nest, in 1906, a brood of young was reared until they 

 were nearly grown. Then both old birds were killed and some of the young 



Fig. 44. Nest of Magpie in osage tree; 

 Prescott, Washington. 



