t8 
ALLEN’S NATURALIST’S LIBRARY. 
in the Eastern Himalayas a black-rumped form occurs (P 
bottanenm), while in South-eastern Spain an intermediate form 
Lw- k fitter in Algeria and Morocco P. mauritanica 
replaces the ordinary European species. In California is found 
the Yellow-billed Magpie (P. nuttalli ). 
THE MAGPIE. PICA PICA. 
Conjus pica, Linn., S. N., i., p. 157 (1766). 
Pica, mrfanoleuca, Macg., Br. B., i., p. 562 (1827). 
Pica rustica, Dress er, B. Eur., iv., p. 509, pi. 260, fig. 2 (1873) ; 
B n rfs / If'C P-3 12 (i 878); B. O. U. List Br. 
B., p. 68 (1883); Saunders, Man., p. 227 (1880). 
Pua caudafa Seeb., Hist. Br. B i., p. 562 (1883); Lilford, Col. 
Fig. Brit. B., pt. xii. (1890). 
Pica pica, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., iii., p. 62 (1877). 
r]lr f! nIt .r- B ' aC \ • wi ; h green and coppery reflections; 
ump with an ashy- white bar ; a white shoulder-patch ; tail dark 
gr< f aCk at rf Gnd ’ before which the feath ers are coppery 
and then purplish red to purplish blue; throat black with 
grey streaks; rest of under surface pure white; thighs and 
under wing-coverts black, with a green shade; bill and legs 
black; ins brown. Total length, 16 inches; culmen i-c • 
wing, 7'9i tail, 9-8 ; tarsus, 1-95. ’ 5 ’ 
Sexes alike, the female being merely a little duller in colour 
Young. Like the adults, but much more dingily coloured. 
Range in Great Britain^Generally distributed throughout the 
British Islands, though absent in some parts of Scotland 
and the outlying islands. In many parts of the southern and 
south-eastern counties of England now of rare occurrence 
Range outside the British Islands. — Generally distributed 
throughout Europe and Northern Asia to China, and also 
occurring over the greater part of North America. 
Hahits.— A woodland species, still plentiful in some of the mid- 
land counties, but regarded with great enmity by the farmer and 
gamekeeper. As regards its food, it is practically omnivorous 
devouring fruit and grain, small mammals and dead birds eo-o-s 
and young of poultry and game ; but also useful from the 
