214 
ZOOLOGY. 
European species. They are very much disliked by the frontier traders and mountain men of 
interior Oregon on account of their vile propensity to alight on the sore backs of broken-down 
and chafed horses or mules, most unceremoniously picking and feeding upon the raw, sore 
flesh, notwithstanding the moans, kicks, and rolling of the poor tortured animals. In this 
manner many disabled beasts have been most irretrievably injured, and probably a vast 
number even killed. It is said that the mountain men and trappers of former times so hated 
this bird, on account of its evil propensity for horse flesh, that Avhen one of them possessed 
but two bullets he was sure to fire one at a magpie if he had an opportunity. These birds breed 
throughout the interior. I obtained a young individual, nearly fledged, about May, 6, 1855, 
at Fort Dalles. 
As with other birds of the genus, carrion affords its principal food. The dead cattle, so 
numerous along the great Oregon emigrant trail some years ago, afforded them an abundant 
supply of food during half the year. The species is partially migratory. At Fort Dalles I saw a 
few magpies staying throughout the winter. The majority of them, however, retire further 
south during the cold season. 
One of the chattering cries of our magpie resembles much a peculiar call uttered by a Steller’s 
j a y- 
I have never observed the yellow-billed magpie in Oregon. 
When in the Rocky mountains I frequently noticed these birds assembling on the trees around 
us, just before we were to leave our camp. Instinct, or, perhaps, experience, had taught them 
that on our departure they would have ‘ 4 full swing ’ ’ at the rinds of bacon and other culinary 
refuse of the deserted camp.—S. 
I first met with the magpie east of the Cascade mountains, near the Yakima, and from there, 
in our journey northward to the 49th degree, it was common, as well as in all the open unwooded 
regions, until we again passed the mountains on our return westward. I saw nothing of it at 
Vancouver during the winter, which was severe enough to cause a migration of several other 
species of birds towards the coast. In the spring of 1855 I heard that magpies had been on 
Whitby’s island during the winter, but none remained in March. I suppose, therefore, that a 
few migrate to the westward in winter. I have heard of magpies frequenting the Columbia 
river at Astoria, and near the mouth of the Willamette, in summer. I have never seen these; 
but think they may be stragglers of the Californian species, which have followed the plains of 
the Willamette to its outlet. Both species inhabit open regions, and the dense forests of the 
lower Columbia must be very ill suited for their resorts. I have never found the magpies on 
the upper Columbia as familiar as they have been represented to be in winter. In summer 
they seemed rather shy, frequenting the thickets along streams and being commonly silent.—C. 
CYANURA STELLERI, Swain son. 
Steller’s Jay. 
P/ " Corvus stelleri, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 370.— Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 158.— Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-As. I, 1811 ? 
393.—Bonap. Zool. Jour. Ill, 1827, 49.—Is. Suppl. Syn. 1828, 433 .—Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 
453; pi. 362. 
Garrulus stelleri, Vieillot, Diet. XII, 1817, 481.— Bonap. Am. Orn. II, 1828, 44; pi. xiii. —Nuttall, Man. 1, 1832, 
229.—Aun. Syn. 1839,154.— Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842,107; pi. 230. Not of Swainson, F. Bor. 
Amer. ? 
