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Externally it is composed of sticks and twigs interwoven together, and becoming more compact as the building proceeds; within these twigs is usually a layer of mud, over which is arranged a lining of grasses and fine twigs; the whole is domed over with a framework of intertwined sticks, an aperture being left in the side for the ingress and egress of the bird. The eggs are six or seven in number, of a greenish white, mottled with brown.

Besides being distributed through Europe and the temperate parts of Asia, the Magpie occurs in North America, and is found as high north as latitude 41o, braving the severities of winter. Colonel Pike relates that in the month of December, in the neighbourhood of the North mountain, north latitude 41°, west longitude 34o, Reaumur's thermometer standing at 17° below 0, these birds were seen in great numbers. "Our horses," he adds, were obliged to scrape the snow away to obtain their miserable pittance; and to increase their misfortunes, the poor animals were attacked by the Magpies, who, attracted by the scent of their sore backs, alighted on them, and, in defiance of their wincing and kicking, picked many places quite raw. The difficulty of procuring food rendered those birds so bold as to alight on our men's arms and eat meat out of their hands."

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Closely allied to the common Magpie are several Indian species, as the Kitta erythrorhyncha, Dendrocitta leucogastra, Sinensis, and vagabunda; to which we may add a Javanese species called Cheketut or Bonteot by the natives, Phrenotrix temia, (Horsf.)—Corvus varians, (Latham.) This bird is described by Dr. Horsfield as being shy and retired, living on insects and wild fruits. Its flight is slow, and it sails heavily through the air, in a right line, about noon, towards the trees edging the forest. Instead of the base of the bill being furnished with bristles, it is encircled by a band of black velvet-like feathers, enclosing the eyes. The general colour is sooty black, with a rich varying tint of olive, having a metallic lustre. The body is about five inches, the tail seven inches. The two middle tail-feathers are broad, and composed of loose

plumes. The general contour is slender and elegant. This beautiful species may be considered as leading off from the pies to the birds of paradise.

The JAYS (Garrulus) are a numerous and well defined group, of which our British species is a fair example. They are principally distributed throughout the more temperate regions; and several species, closely resembling our own, are found in the Himalayan mountains, all characterized by the barred blue on the wing. In manner and habits all agree.

The JAY (Garrulus glandarius, Cuv.) is a much less common bird than the magpie, and is more exclusively a frequenter of the thick parts of the wood, where it feeds on acorns, berries, snails, insects, eggs, and sometimes nestling birds. Its natural voice is harsh, but it does not chatter so incessantly as the magpie; in captivity it may be taught to articulate pretty distinctly. Its nest is formed of sticks, not very artfully interwoven, lined with fine roots and fibres. The eggs are light green, marked with pale brown.

The general plumage is of a most beautiful vinous gray. The head is crested with narrow feathers, each having a streak of black; and a black patch occupies the cheeks below the eye. The wings are black with a white spot in the middle, the shoulders being of a fine azure blue, crossed with narrow bars of black. The upper tailcoverts are white, the tail black, as is also the beak.

The genus Nucifraga, characterized by the beak being straight and pointed, comprehends but two species, one the EUROPEAN NUTCRACKER, (Nucifraga caryocatactes, VIEILL.) and the other newly discovered, from the Himalayan mountains. The Nutcracker is as large as a jay; its plumage is dark brown, dotted all over with oblong spots of white. Only one or two instances are on record of its having been seen in England; the forests of central Europe are its true habitat, especially in mountain districts. In its manners it much resembles the wood

pecker, climbing trees, and boring the bark in search of insects, which, with wild fruits and young birds, constitute its food. Occasionally it is seen to descend into the open plains, in small flocks, but not at any stated periods. It is a bird of little fear or distrust, and soon becomes tame.

The genus Coracias, which includes the Rollers, is characterized by a stout straight beak, compressed laterally. It includes, among others, the EUROPEAN ROLLER, (Coracias garrula,) a native of the central parts of Europe, and common in the forests of Germany. It is a noisy restless bird, extremely wild and shy; it builds in holes of trees, and migrates to warmer climates on the approach of winter. Stragglers are not unfrequently shot in England; in France, however, it is known to breed.

The colours of the Roller are truly rich and beautiful. The general plumage is fine verditer blue, changing to green; the shoulders are azure blue; the first quillfeathers bluish black; the back buff brown; the tailcoverts purple. Size that of the jay. It is very common

in the north of Africa.

The Mino Birds (Eulabes, Cuv.) are distinguished by a compressed beak, stout at the base, and gradually tapering. The nostrils are round. The head is ornamented with two loose hanging folds of naked skin on the occiput, and a naked space on each cheek. In manners these birds a good deal resemble the starlings, being restless and noisy; they are more apt perhaps than any other bird at imitating the human voice.

The example here selected, with a sketch from nature, is the INDIAN MINO BIRD, or Mino Grakle, the Gracula religiosa of Linnæus, (Eulabes Indicus, Cuv.) The Indian Mino Bird is frequently brought to Europe, where it is highly valued for its powers of imitation. It is docile, sprightly, and active, and bears our climate well. In size it is equal to a thrush; the head is covered with velvet-like feathers; two folds of skin of a yellowish colour hang from the occiput, and a naked space occupies

the cheeks below each eye. The bill is orange; the legs yellow. The whole plumage is rich glossy black, with the exception of a white bar on the wing.

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We now arrive at a group of birds, perhaps the most interesting of the feathered race, a group distinguished by the splendour and elegance of their plumage, and by the long flowing plumes by which they are ornamented. We allude to the Birds of Paradise (Paradisea, LIN.)

The Birds of Paradise are natives of New Guinea and the adjacent islands; they are characterized by a stout, compressed, and straight beak, the nostrils being obscured by velvet-like feathers, often glittering with a metallic lustre, which encircle the base of the beak; the legs are strong and the feet large; the wings are short, rounded, and feeble; the powers of flight at most but moderate. Several species are known, all of exceeding beauty. A few examples may be selected.

The GREATER BIRD OF PARADISE, (Paradisaa major.) This graceful bird was termed, by Linnæus

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