104 
YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE. 
Pica Nuttallii, And. 
PLATE CCXXVIIL— Adult. 
I have conferred on this beautiful bird the name of a most zealous, learned, 
and enterprising naturalist, my friend Thomas Nuttall, Esq., to whom the 
scientific world is deeply indebted for the many additions to our zoological 
and botanical knowledge which have resulted from his labours. It is to him 
alone that we owe all that is known respecting the present species, which 
has not hitherto been portrayed. In a note inserted by him in my journal, 
he says : 
“ As w r e proceed to the south in Upper California, around the village of 
Sta. Barbara, we find the Common Magpie substituted by this remarkable 
species, which is much more shy and cautious, as well as more strictly 
insectivorous. It utters, however, nearly if not quite the same chatter. In 
the month of April they were everywhere mated, and had nearly completed 
their nests in the evergreen oaks of the vicinity ( Quercus agrifolia). The 
only one I saw was situated on a rather high tree, towards the summit, and 
mncli concealed among the thick and dark branches. Their call was pait, 
pait ; and on approaching each other, a low congratulatory chatter was 
heard. After being fired at once, it seemed nearly impossible again to 
approach them within gun-shot. When alighted in the thick oaks, they 
remained for a considerable time silent, and occasionally even wholly hid 
themselves ; but after a while the call of recognition was again renewed, 
and if the pair then met, they would often fly off a mile or more, withont 
stopping, in quest of insects. We often saw them on the ground, but never 
near the offal of the oxen so attractive to the Crows and Ravens around.” 
Corvus Nuttall, Yellow-billed Magpie, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 450. 
Bill and bare space beneath the eyes yellow ; in form, proportion, and 
size, similar to the Common Magpie : the feathers of the tail narrower ; 
the colours similar, but the top of the head glossed with green, and the 
black of the back and fore neck tinged with brown. 
Male, 18 ; wing, 71. 
Upper California. Common. Resident. 
