MAGPIE, or PrE (Pica), a genus of birds of the family Cord& (q.v.), differing from the true crows chiefly in the long and graduated tail. They are also of smaller size and brighter colors, the most prevalent color being blue with bars of black and white. The only British species is the COMMON MAGPIE (P. caudata), the Eitta of the Greeks, and Pica of the Romans; a common bird in Britain, and almost all parts of Europe, and too well known to require particular description ; its bright but not finely mingled colors- black, white, and blue—making it always conspicuous, and its dissonant, harsh cry equally attracting attention. The magpie is generally to be seen itepairs throughout the year. It builds its nest in high trees; the outside being formed of thorny sticks strongly interwoven, the inside plastered with earth and lined with fibers and dry grass; the top a dome, and one aperture left on the side for the parent bird. The magpie is shy and
vigilant in an extreme degree, notable for cunning., both in eluding enemies, and in seek ing its own food, as to which it may be said that nothing: comes amiss to it, grain being not unacceptable, but eggs or carrion preferable. In Britain, it is persecuted by game keepers; in Norway, it is encouraged in the neighborhood of human habitations, and consequently often rnakes its nest under the eaves of churches and other buildings. The magpie is easily tamed, becomes impudently familiar, and learns t6 articulate a few words. Both in a wild and tame state, it has a propensity to seize and carry off bright or glittering articles. It abounds in most parts of Europe and the north of Asia, and in the northern parts of America, but is rare in the parts of America near the Atlantic.— The other species are mostly natives of the eastern parts of Asia.