\Mag"pie\, n. [OE. & Prov. E. magot pie, maggoty pie, fr.
Mag, Maggot, equiv. to Margaret, and fr. F. Marquerite, and
common name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. margarita
pearl, Gr. ?, prob. of Eastern origin. See {Pie} magpie, and
cf. the analogous names {Tomtit}, and {Jackdaw}.] (Zo["o]l.)
Any one of numerous species of the genus {Pica} and related
genera, allied to the jays, but having a long graduated tail.
Note: The common European magpie ({Pica pica}, or {P.
      caudata}) is a black and white noisy and mischievous
      bird. It can be taught to speak. The American magpie
      ({P. Hudsonica}) is very similar. The yellow-belled
      magpie ({P. Nuttalli}) inhabits California. The blue
      magpie ({Cyanopolius Cooki}) inhabits Spain. Other
      allied species are found in Asia. The Tasmanian and
      Australian magpies are crow shrikes, as the white
      magpie ({Gymnorhina organicum}), the black magpie
      ({Strepera fuliginosa}), and the Australian magpie
      ({Cracticus picatus}).
{Magpie lark} (Zo["o]l.), a common Australian bird ({Grallina
   picata}), conspicuously marked with black and white; --
   called also {little magpie}.
{Magpie moth} (Zo["o]l.), a black and white European
   geometrid moth ({Abraxas grossulariata}); the harlequin
   moth. Its larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes.