75 



MAGPIE. 

 CORVUS PICA. 

 [Plate XXXV.— Fig. 2.] 



Arct. ZooL No. 136.— Lath. I, 392.— Buff. Ill, 85.— Pe ale's Jfwmm, No, 1333. 



THIS bird is much better known in Europe than in this coun- 

 try, where it has not been long discovered ; although it is now found 

 to inhabit a wide extent of territory, and in great numbers. The 

 drawing was taken from a very beautiful specimen, sent from the 

 Mandan nation^ on the Missouri, to Mr* Jefferson, and by that gen* 

 tleman to Mr. Peale of this city, in whose Museum it lived for se- 

 veral months, and where I had an opportunity of examining it. On 

 carefully comparing it with the European Magpie in the same col- 

 lection, no material difference could be perceived. The figure on 

 the plate is reduced to exactly half the size of life. 



This bird unites in its character courage and cunning, turbu* 

 lence and rapacity. Not inelegantly formed, and distinguished 

 by gay as well as splendid plumage, he has long been noted in 

 those countries where he commonly resides, and his habits and 

 manners are there familiarly known. He is particularly pernicious 

 to plantations of young oaks, tearing up the acorns; and also to 

 birds, destroying great numbers of their eggs and young, even 

 young chickens, partridges, grous and pheasants. It is perhaps on 

 this last account that the whole vengeance of the game laws has 

 lately been let loose upon him, in some parts of Britain ; as ap» 

 pears by accounts from that quarter, where premiums, it is said, 

 are offered for his head, as an arch poacher; and penalties in- 

 flicted on all those who permit him to breed on their premises. 

 Under the lash of such rigorous persecution, a few years will pro- 



