CHAPTER LXYIII. 



The Magpie. 



Corvus Pica, Lin. ; La Pie, Buf. 



Description and Character. — The Magpie is a hand- 

 some, bold, sagacious, and tricky bird, and greatly admired 

 by most lovers of birds, on account of its free and familiar 

 manner, and the friendly greeting it almost invariably 

 bestows upon those who supply its wants and treat it with 

 kindness. 



The Magpie measures from 17in. to 18in. in length, the 

 tail being 10 Jin. ; its weight, when in good condition, is 8Joz. 

 to 9oz. The bill is rather long, well formed, powerful, and 

 black in hue. The irides are hazel. The head, neck, breast, 

 and back, are of a deep, rich, velvety black. The larger wing 

 feathers are brownish black, the secondaries purplish blue, 

 and the greater coverts greenish blue. The first eleven 

 pen feathers of the wings are white in the middle, on the 

 inner web, and gradually lessen inwards. The tail is wedge- 

 shaped ; the two middle feathers are the longest, the outer- 

 most being only about half their length. The scapulars, and 

 the inner parts of the body, below the breast, are snowy 

 white, forming a pleasing contrast to the other parts of the 

 body covering. On the throat and upper part of the neck 

 there are to be found, in old birds, thin, whitish grey 

 feathers, greatly resembling hairs. The feathers on the neck 

 are excessively long, extending a considerable distance down 

 the back. The rump is tinctured with ashen grey. The legs 

 and feet are black. 



2 c 



