I N S E S S R E S. 



121 



2. Genus PICA, Brisson, Orn. II, p. 35 (1760). 

 1. Pica Nuttalli [Aud.). 



Corvus NuitalU, Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, p. 450 (1838). 



Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCLXII, fig. 1; oct. ed. IV, Plate 

 CCXXVIII. 



This species, if such it is, appears to differ from the previously known 

 American Magpie {Pica Hadsovki), only in the color of the bill, which 

 is yellow, instead of black. This character is, however, permanent, 

 and presents itself in very young, as well as in adult specimens. 

 It has frequently been brought from California, by naturalists who 

 have visited that country since it has been a part of the territory 

 of the United States, and we have had opportunities of examining it 

 in various stages of plumage. The most mature specimens that have 

 come under our notice, were contained in the fine collections made by 

 Dr. A. L. Heermann, of Philadelphia, and specimens so young as to 

 be scarcely feathered are in the collection of the Philadelphia Aca- 

 demy, sent from California by the late Dr. William Gambel. All are 

 uniformly characterized by the yellow bill; but we have failed to 

 detect any other peculiar character whatever; and, moreover, both 

 the American species here alluded to are only with difficulty to be 

 distinguished from the magpie of Europe [Pica melanoleuca, Vieill.). 

 In fact, we much doubt whether any naturalist could select either 

 American or European specimens from a mixed collection of the two 

 American and the European species, except as directed by the yellow 

 bill in the bird now before us. 



In relation to the present species, Mr. Peale remarks: "This species 

 was observed about the forty-second degree of north latitude, on the 

 south side of the Shasty Mountains, or the boundary between Oregon 

 and California, and from thence south, continued common on the route 

 down the Sacramento River. It frequents the oak groves, which now 

 and then diversify the prairie lands of that country; and at the season 

 we passed, in the month of September, it was the only magpie seen ; 

 but it is probable that the common magpie, which is known to breed 



31 



