12 (JARDEN AN'U AVlAliY BIRU.S. 



our hills. TIk'v are birds with moderately lon,ii tails 

 like Crows, but short wings like Magpies. Like tlie 

 Magpies also, they are very ornanieiital, and rather useful 

 than haiinful. Most of them have a stiong general 

 resemblance to the English Jay. but one common species 

 is very distinct and striking. 



The Black-headed Jay {(i<irrnlus hmceolatits), is 

 called Bnn-s(irr((li hy the Simla hill-men. I saw it com- 

 monly about Mussoorie. It is about the size of a pigeon, 

 of a delicate pinkish-drab, with black head, and \vings 

 and tail most beautifully l)arred with black and bine, 

 ami tipped with white. It is a showy bird, exposing 

 itself freelv and often playing on the wing above the 

 trees. It is found all over the Himalayas, ranging to 

 8,0(10 feet in sunnnei'. and coming as low down as Dehra 

 in winter. It builds an open nest in medium-sized trees 

 and lays greenish-white eggs with brown spots. Some 

 birds are brought down alive to Calcutta every winter. 



Magpies and Jays make the best of aviary birds ; foi' 

 cages they are to') largx' a.nd dirty. Tliev can be kept 

 together, and with othei- birds well able to take care of 

 themselves, such as the larger Mynahs and Babblers ; 

 small birds the\' would eat without compunction. They 

 should, indeed, always have some raw aninud food, as 

 noted in the final chapter on management. Fruit is also 

 needful ; but almost any cooked food will do as the (hiily 

 diet for these omnivorous birds, and an a\iary can be 

 kept going (Hi house scraps. Inch-mesh wire-netting will 

 be suitable for birds of this size, and any mice or sparrows 

 that get through will stand an excellent chance of never 



