576 
U. S. P. R R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 
PICA, B r i s s o n . 
Coracias, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1735. Gray. 
Pica, Brisson, Ornithologia, 1760, and of Cuvier, (Agassiz.) Type Cor vus pica, L. 
Cissa, Barrere, " Orn. Spec, novum, 1745." 
Cleptes, Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. 2d Ser. I, 1847, 47. 
Ch. — Tail very long, forming much more than half the total length ; the feathers much graduated; the lateral scarcely 
more than half the middle. First primary falcate, curved, and attenuated. Bill about as high as broad at the base; the 
culmen and gonys much curved, and about equal ; the bristly feathers reaching nearly to the middle of the bill. Nostrils nearly 
circular. Tarsi very long ; middle toe scarcely more than two-thirds the length. A patch of naked skin beneath and behind 
the eye. 
The peculiar characteristic of this genus, in addition to the very long graduated tail, lies in 
the attenuated, falcate first primary. Calocitta, which has an equally long or longer tail, has 
the first primary as in the jays generally, (besides having the nostrils exposed.) 
A specimen of P. nuttalli has the lateral tarsal plates with two or three transverse divisions, 
on the lower third. This does not occur in P. Imdsonica. 
The hill of Pica, in every respect, is very similar to that of Gorvus, except that it is shorter. 
The bristly feathers are also alike. The nostrils are smaller, more nearly circular; the axis not 
oblique, nor the anterior margin scooped out, as in Corvus. 
The two North American species are readily distinguished by the black bill in hudsonica, 
and the yellow one of nuttalli. 
The first distinct name applied to the magpies is Coracias, Linnaeus, in 1735. Both this and 
Cissa, of Barrere, appear to have been proposed before Pica, of Brisson. Why Mr. Gray has 
passed by both these names I do not know, but presume he had some good reason for so doing. 
He rejects Pica, on account of its similarity to Picus, and takes Dr. Gambol's name of Cleptes, 
1847. 
Without the original references before me, I follow Mr. Gray in passing over Coracias and 
Cissa, but retain Pica, as sufficiently dissimilar from Picus. 
Comparative measurements of species. 
Catal. No. 
Species. 
Locality. 
3 
Stretch of 
wings. 
j Wing. 
h 
Tarsus. 
Middle toe. 
Its claw 
alone. 
Hind toe 
and claw. 
Hind claw 
alone. 
Bill above. 
Along gape. 
Specimen 
measured. 
3938 
1922 
4547 
<lo. 
17.30 
16.90 
18.50 
18.75 
7.42 
6.97 
8.50 
10.26 
9.20 
11.20 
1.95 
1.93 
1.90 
1.43 
1.42 
1.42 
0.45 
0.40 
0.46 
1.00 
1.02 
0.97 
0.49 
0.50 
0.50 
1.28 
1.30 
1.53 
1.50 
1.54 
Pica melanoleuca .... 
24.25 
.,, 
PICA HUDSONICA, B o n a p . 
Magpie. 
Corvus pica, Forster, Phil. Tnins. LXXII, 1772, 382.— Wilson, Am. Orn. IV, 1811, 75 ; pi. xxxv.— Bon. Obs. 
Wils. 1825, No. 40.— 1b. Syn. 1828, 57.— Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 211).— Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 
408 ; pi. 357. Not of Linnaeus. 
Corvus hudsonica, Jos. Sabine, App. Narr. Franklin's Journey, 1823, 25, 671. 
Picus hudsonica, Bonap. List, 1838.— Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 383.— Maxim. Reise Nord. Amer. I, 1839, 508.— Ib. 
Cabanis' Journ. 1856, 197.— Newberry, Zool. Cal. & Or. Route, Rep. P. R. R, VI, iv, 1857, 
84. 
meples hudsonicus, Gambkl, J. A. N. Sc. 2d Ser. 1, Dec. 1847, 47. 
Pica melanoleuca, " Vieill." Aud. Syn. 1839, 157.— In. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 99 ; pi. 227. 
