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90 THE CONDOR Vol. XIII one hand, and idle loafers or sight-seers, on the other. In the winter of 1902-1903, and that of 1903-1904, I kept a stack of prairie-hay, another of oat-fodder, and a third of squawcorn stalks with the ears left on. These stacks proved a great at- traction to the birds. They stood a little distance from the dwelling house, on the bleak plain, and high above the flood-plain of Medicine Root Creek, which lies two-score rods to the west. To the east are the treeless higher hills, and to the south and southeast rise other hills upon which grow groups of pines (Pinus ponderosa scopulorum). The creek-plain, which lies far below the general sur- face of the adjacent country, is densely covered with a growth of deciduous trees and shrubs. At all times to the dooryard came the Magpies (Pica pica h?tdso?tia). Mis- chievous and thievish though they are, I know of no other birds among all my acquaintances more attractive and charming than they. Whilst watching their antics and hearkening to their friendly, conversational chattering, one can almost forget that at some time or other the very birds that he is observing may have killed and eaten by inches the saddle-galled pony of a Siouan "brave." Each winter, among the sixteen or twenty Pies that made daily visits to search for edible matter among such refuse as had been thrown 'out, came one or more that had parted with their tail-feathers. These appendages, the Indians informed me, had been left in some steel trap set for small four-footed game. The tailless in-. dividuals, however, as it seemed to me, were about as well off as were those that still were "whole"; for when the latter leave the sheltered groves that border the water-courses, and ascend to the higher ground, I have noticed -that they are con- siderably inconvenienced, in the high winds, by having such large caudal append- ages. In the mornings, when one is trying to muster self-command enough to persuade himself to rise, outside the window can be heard the chattering and scold- ing of adozen or more of these birds. Only at the time of courtship and nest- building are their visits to the doorstep comparatively rare. Curiosity certainly is an element in their mental make-up. On one occasion I saw sixteen of them gathered round a domestic cat, all sitting very still, intently watching the feline, and jumping quickly and nimbly back at his slightest movement. Nevertheless, as a rule, they seemed to have little, if any, fear of this cat. He and they were often to be seen together culling edibles from a box of garbage. At another time, however, and in another place, the cat in the case did not fare so well. One morning at Grass Creek, South Dakota, I was awakened by the excited shrieking and chattering of Magpies. On going to the window I saw an old house eat in a couchant attitude, about two rods from the door of the cottage. His tail was coiled closely about his feet--for safe. keeping, as developments presently showed; and he appeared ill at ease as he watched a pair of Pies that were hopping about him, their dark eyes glistening with deviltry. At length the cat rose and started to walk toward the doorstep. Immediately, first one bird and then the other hopped quickly forward and nipped the end of Tom's tail with its bill. All that the cat did to show his resentment was to turn half round with a protesting "meow!", after which he squatted down again. When he arose once more the whole performance Was repeated, and it was only when the feline reached the stoop that he was suffered to rest in peace. It is said that jack rabbits are some- times harrassed by these avian mischief-makers in like manner. O[ten one (and, I think, always the same) individual of the flock of Magpies at Medicine Root Valley would reply to a teasing chatter uttered by a person in the house, and whilst so doing would approach very near to the door or window whence came the challenge. Magpies when tamed may be taught to articulate a