The pie belongs to the same family of birds as the crow, and is the
_Corvus pica_ of Linnaeus, the _Pica caudata_, _P. melanoleuca_, or _P.
rustica_ of modern ornithologists, who have recognized it as forming a
distinct genus, but the number of species thereto belonging has been a
fruitful source of discussion. Examples from the south of Spain differ
slightly from those inhabiting the rest of Europe, and in some points
more resemble the _P. mauritanica_ of north-western Africa; but that
species has a patch of bare skin of a fine blue colour behind the eye,
and much shorter wings. No fewer than five species have been
discriminated from various parts of Asia, extending to Japan; but only
one of them, the _P. leucoptera_ of Turkestan and Tibet, has of late
been admitted as valid. In the west of North America, and in some of its
islands, a pie is found which extends to the upper valleys of the
Missouri and the Yellowstone, and has long been thought entitled to
specific distinction as _P. hudsonia_; but its claim thereto is now
disallowed by some of the best ornithologists of the United States, and
it can hardly be deemed even a geographical variety of the Old-World
form. In California, however, there is a permanent race if not a good
species, _P. nuttalli_, easily distinguishable by its yellow bill and
the bare yellow skin round its eyes; on two occasions in the year 1867 a
bird apparently similar was observed in Great Britain (_Zoologist_, ser.
2, pp. 706, 1016). (A. N.)
FOOTNOTE:
[1] "Magot" and "Madge," with the same origin, are names, frequently
given in England to the pie; while in France it is commonly known as
_Margot_, if not termed, as it is in some districts, _Jaquette_.
MAGWE, a district in the Minbu division of Upper Burma. Area, 2913 sq.
m.; pop. (1901), 246,708, showing an increase of 12.38% in the decade.
Magwe may be divided into two portions: the low, flat country in the
Taungdwingyi subdivision, and the undulating high ground extending over
the rest of the district. In Taungdwingyi the soil is rich, loamy, and
extremely fertile. The plain is about 45 m. from north to south. At its
southern extremity it is about 30 m. wide, and lessens in width to the
north till it ends in a point at Natmauk. On the east are the Pegu
Yomas, which at some points reach a height of 1500 ft. A number of
streams run westwards to the Irrawaddy, of which the Yin and the Pin,
which form the northern boundary, are the chief. The only perennial
stream is the Yanpè. Rice is the staple product, and considerable
quantities are exported. Sesamum of very high quality, maize, and millet
are also cultivated, as well as cotton in patches here and there over
the whole district.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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