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THE MAGPIE. 
The nest of this species is made at the extremity of a long tnnnel cut in the wood of some 
decaying tree, and either originally dug by the bird, with the express object of making a 
resting-place for its eggs, or altered and adapted from an already existing hole. In this 
respect, as well as in other habits, the Nut-cracker bears some resemblance to the woodpeckers. 
The eggs are said to be from five to six in number, and grayish-yellow in color, spotted 
with a darker hue. The bird seems to require a large supply of nourishment ; and although 
it cannot be ranked among the true migrators, it can range over a large extent of country in 
search of food, being instinctively able to discover the localities where its wants can be best 
supplied. 
The coloring of this bird is peculiar, and rather complicated. The crown of the head is 
deep brown, and the space between the beak and the eye is grayish-white. The back, the 
sides of the head, the scapularies, the wing-coverts, and the whole of the under surface ot the 
body are of a warm brown, covered thickly with elongated white spots, caused by the white 
tips with which each feather is furnished. The throat and 'chin take a darker hue, but 
are still marked with the conspicuous white spots. The wings and upper tail-coverts are dark 
black-brown, the black being less marked at the extremities of the feathers. The tail is mostly 
blackish-brown, diversified with white, the two central feathers being totally dark, and the 
remainder taking more white as they approach the two external feathers. The under surface 
of the tail is light gray-brown. The total length of the Nutcracker is about thirteen or 
fourteen inches. 
America possesses a very pretty example of this genus in the Clark’s Nut-cracker 
(. Picicorvus colwmbianus). 
This bird is notable for the diversified beauty of its plumage, and for the extremely 
formidable claws with which it is armed ; the latter peculiarity leading to the idea that 
the bird preys on various living animals, after the manner of the fish crow. It fiequents the 
rivers and sea-shore in considerable numbers, assembling in flocks, like the rook of Europe, 
and pouncing continually upon various substances which it immediately swallows. It is a 
very noisy as well as gregarious bird, chattering continually while feeding. ^ 
The wings, the two central tail-feathers, and several of the remaining feathers of the tail 
are deep glossy blue-black, and the secondaries are also black, but are marked with a large 
patch of white. The head, neck, and greater part of the body is light fawn, changing to a 
pearly gray upon the breast and abdomen. The total length of this bird is about thiiteen 
inches 
Clark’s Crow is like the Jackdaw of Europe. It inhabits the region between the Rocky 
Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Its color is quite unlike the typical crow, being a light 
slate color and white. In some localities it is called Nut-cracker. 
Maximilian’s Jay, or Nut-cracker {Gymnocittci cyanocephald). A species first discov- 
ered by the Prince Maximilian, of Niew Wied. It inhabits the Rocky Mountains, and the 
cascades of California and Oregon. Its color is much like the typical coloration of the Jays ; 
though in this case the blue is very pale. 
Who does not know the Magpie, the pert, the gay, the mischievous? What denizen of the 
«ountry is not familiar with his many exploits in the way of barefaced and audacious theft, 
his dipping flight, and his ingenuity in baffling the devices of the fowler and the gunner ? 
What inhabitant of the town has not seen him cooped in his wicker dwelling, dull and 
begrimed with the daily smoke, but yet pert as ever ; talkative, and a wonderful admirer o 
his dingy plumage and ragged tail ? . , 
The Magpie is found in very many parts of the world, always keeping to well-wooded dis- 
tricts, as if distrusting its power of flight in the open country ; for the larger hawks are prone to 
fly at the Magpie, which has but little chance of escape upon the plain, but can always evade his 
foe among hedge-rows and plantations by slipping among the branches and dodging through the 
foliage. Even a trained falcon fails to catch a Magpie when it has once reached such an asylum, 
