neither the eggs
nor, in most cases, the birds can be identified without the precise
location where they were taken.

[Illustration deco (301).]
[Illustration right hand border.]

Page 300

CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. Family CORVIDAE.

475. MAGPIE. _Pica pica hudsonia._

Range.--Western North America from the Great Plains to the Pacific and
from Alaska to Arizona and New Mexico.

These large handsome birds have the entire head, neck and breast velvety
black, abruptly defined against the white underparts. The back, wings
and tail are greenish or bluish black, and the scapulars, white; length
of bird 20 inches. They are well known throughout the west, where their
bold and thievish habits always excite comment. They nest in bushes and
trees at low elevations from the ground, making a very large nest of
sticks, with an opening on the side, and the interior is made of weeds
and mud, lined with fine grasses; these nests often reach a diameter of
three feet and are made of quite large sticks. During April or May, they
lay from four to eight grayish white eggs, plentifully spotted with
brown and drab. Size 1.25 x .90.

476. YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE. _Pica nuttalli._

Range.--Middle parts of California, west of the Sierra Nevadas.

This species is slightly smaller than the last and has a yellowish bill
and lores, otherwise being precisely like the more common species. Their
habits do not differ from those of the other, the nests are the same and
the eggs are indistinguishable. Size 1.25 x .88.

[Illustration 302: Magpie.]
[Illustration: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Grayish white.]
[Illustration.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 301

[Illustration 303: R. B. Rockwell.
NEST OF AMERICAN MAGPIE.]

Page 302

[Illustration 304: YOUNG BLUE JAYS.]

Page 303

477. BLUE JAY. _Cyanocitta cristata cristata._

Range.--North America, east of the Plains and north to Hudson Bay;
resident and very abundant in its United States range.

These beautiful and bold marauders are too well known to need
description, suffice it to say that they are the most beautiful of North
American Jays; but beneath their handsome plumage beats a heart as cruel
and cunning as that in any bird of prey. In the fall, winter and spring,
their food consists largely of acorns, chestnuts, berries, seeds, grain,
insects, lizards, etc., but during the summer months they destroy and
devour a great many eggs and young of the smaller birds,