lU (JAKDEX AND AVIAKY BIKD^. 



coiiiniit it, they cannot ^iret thiough the same amount of 

 miscliief, while they are .singuhiily oinamental. 



The Common Indian Macjpie ok Wanderinc; Treepie 

 [DendroctUn rufa). is well known as IIfiHilicl>(()icl/(( or 

 Ko/rec to the natives ot Beni:al. This pretty bird is a 

 familiar gaiden visitor, and his short win.us and long tail 

 make him conspicuous in his easy dipping flight. His 

 colour is also unmistakeable, behig bufi" or cinnamon with 

 a sooty head and grey, black-tipped wings and tail. He 

 is an onmivorous feeder, and has been accused of des- 

 tructiveness to garden produce, but as he certahily 

 devours large numbers of insects, and also acts as a check 

 on the undue increase of small birds, he probably does 

 more good than harm. His notes are often very pretty, 

 and when taken young, he can be taught to speak — a 

 connnon accomplishment hi the Crow family. 



Hardly ever you will see him on the ground, aiul when 

 there he can only hop, not walkhig like the pied Magpie 

 at home. 



The nest is built high up in a tree, and is open or cup- 

 shaped, as usual in this family ; the eggs, which are spot- 

 ted, vary from pinkish to greenish in ground colour. 



This biid is oiu' of our commonest Indian species, being 

 found throughout India and PMirma in the plain?:, and 

 ascending the hills up to 7,UUU feet. The hill climate ap- 

 pears to agree with it, as hill birds are the largest in size. 



The bird ordinarily measures about a foot and a half, 

 of which a foot is taken up by the tail. 



The Ked-hilled JjLle .Macjpie (Urocia^d oaipitalin), 

 is a splendid creature possessing a tail half-a-yard long, 



