[95.] 3. C o r v u s p i c a . (Linn.) The Magpie.
G e n u s , C o it u s ,. L i n n .
Corvus pica. F o r s t . Phil. Trans., lxii., p. 387, No. 11.
Magpie. P e n n . Arct. Zool, ii., p. 247, No. 136. W i l s ., iv., p. 75, pi. 35, f. 2.
Corvus Hudsonius. . & A B . Frankl. Journ., p. 671.
Corvus pica. B o n a p . Syn., p. 57, No. 62.
Shepecum-mewuck, M a s k e g o n s . Ootaw-kee-askee, C r e e I n d ia n s .
This bird, so common in Europe, is equally plentiful in the interior prairie'
lands of America; but it is singular that, though it abounds oh the shores of
Sweden and other maritime parts of the Old World,,it is very rare on the Atlantic
coasts of America or near Hudson’s Bay : only stray individuals passing to the
eastward of the Mississippi or of Lake Winipeg. Mr. Say informs us that it
winters on the Missouri, and takes its departure northwards on the 23rd of
March. It does not entirely quit the banks of the Saskatchewan even in winter;
but is much more frequent in the summer. On comparing its eggs with those
of the European bird, they are found to be longer and narrower; and though
the colours are the same, the blotches are larger and more diffused*. The
manners of the American bird are precisely the same that we are accustomed to observe in the English onef.
DESCRIPTION
Of a specimen, killed on the Saskatchewan, 20th May, 1827.
C o l o u r .—Scapulars, band on the rump, belly, and inner webs of the greater quills pure
white, the latter partially edged with black. Rest of the plumage velvet-black, with metallic
reflections on various parts, particularly the forehead and tail, of emerald and duck greens,
pansy-purple, steel-blue, and gold-yellow. Bill, irides, and legs black.
Dimensions.
’inch.' Lin. Length, total 20 6 Length of bill to rictus Inch.' Lin. * Tnnh. T.in. „ of tail . 12 3 „ of tarsus . 1 9 Length of middle claw . 0 6f „ of wing * 2 0 „ o f hind toe. . . 0 6*
„ of bill above
8
. 1
65
„ of middle toe • 1 1 » of its claw . 0
Ten specimens, of both sexes, varied only half an inch in total length, the tail being the
same in all :■ the bills of most were somewhat shorter than the above.
Inch.Xin. Inch. Lin. * American eggs, length . . 1 3£ Breadth . . 0 7
English eggs, „ . . 1 2 $ ,, . . 0 7 f
_ have been able to compare English and Arctic specimens with .one from the interior of China, kindly communicated
by Mr. Gray, and we cannot perceive the slightest difference whereon to build even the character of a variety,
much less of a spepies. The tails of the Arctic specimens are very beautiful.—Sw.
f96.] 1. G a r r u l u s c r i s t a t u s . (Vieillot.) The Blue Jay.
S u b -f a m i l y , Garrulin®, S w a in s . Genies, Garrulus, B r is s ., A u c t . Blue Jay {Corvus cristatus). P e n n . Arct. Zool., ii., No. 138. W in s ., i., p. 11, pi- h !•
Garrulus cristatus. V i e i l ., Ency. Meth., p. 890. Gal. des Ois., pi. 102; good.
Corvus cristatus. S a b . Frankl. Journ., p . 67 2. B o n a p . Syn., No. 63.
Tw ae-tw ae-shew . C r e e I n d ia n s .
This very handsome Jay is common throughout the year in Pennsylvania,
frequents the southern States only in winter, and visits the fur-countries, in
summer, up to the fifty-sixth parallel, but seldom approaches the shores of
Hudson’s Bay. The Blue Jay exhibits in perfection most of the qualities, good
or bad, for which its congeners are noted. It is equally noisy and inquisitive,
alarming the inhabitants of the forest by loud screams when it apprehends
danger; uttering its low, soft, and somewhat musical notes when in security ; and
occasionally mocking the surrounding birds with imitations of their various songs.
Its eggs have a dilute oil-green colour, with scattered spots of a deeper tint,
mixed with others of subdued bluish-grey : their length is 13i lines.
DESCRIPTION
J, Of a specimen, killed on the Saskatchewan plains, in May, 1827-
C o l o u r .__Crown, crest, back, scapulars, and lesser coverts, bluish or campanula-purple.
Chin, throat, and circumference of the eye tinged with pale lilac. Line on the lores,
occipital collar, ears, and base of the neck, black. Quills, greater coterts, and tail rich
indigo-blue, barred with velvet-black: all, except the central pair of tail feathers*, tipped
with white; bars on the lateral tail feathers obsolete, the white tips more extended ; inner
webs of the greater quills blackish, with a white mark at the base. Belly, flanks, and thighs
lavender or greyish-purple : vent and under tail coverts white. Inside of the wings and tail
beneath bluish-grey. Bill and legs black. Irides wood-brown.—R.
F orm, aberrant. Bill longer'! and more compressed than that of the Garrulus Canadensis,
and considerably narrower and weaker than that of the European Jay, in comparison with
which the notch of the upper mandible is less distinct, the lower mandible weaker, and both
much less compressed. Wings rounded ; the fifth and sixth quills nearly equal and longest,
the third shorter than the sixth: the lesser quills ovately rounded at their tips, which are not
mucronated. Tail moderately lengthened, and all the feathers graduated.—Sw.
J* TThheer ej eanrget hel e0vfe nt hbea rbs iolln v tahreie cs.e ntAra ls ppeaciirm oefn t aoifl tfheaet hGe.r sc.ristatus, killed on Lake Huron, in perfect plumage, had a
tall a quarter of an inch shorter than the one described above.—R.