SAXICOLIN.'E. 115 



Cat. 101 — Dahlia docllls, Hodgs. — Dai/ar, or Dai/al, H. and Beng. 

 — Pedda nalanchi, Tel., also Sarela-gada, i. c.y the Piet — Zannid- 

 pho, Lepch. 



The Magpie-robin. 



Descr. — Head, neck, breast, body above, and wings, black, glossed 

 blue on all parts except the wings ; abdomen, vent, and under tail- 

 coverts white, the four outer tail-feathers on each side, white. 



The female is duller black than the male, and somwhat ashy on 

 the breast. The young birds have the breast dusky with ruddy 

 spots, the upper surface olive-brown turning to slaty. 



Bill and legs black ; irides brown. Length 8^ inches ; wing 4 ; 

 tail 3j'^j ; extent 11^; bill at front j^ ; tarsus 1^. 



The Magpie-robin is found throughout all India, from the 

 Himalayas to Cape Comorin and Ceylon ; and eastwards to 

 Arrakan and Tenasserim. Ilutton says that at Mussooree it occurs 

 up to 5,000 feet. It is rare near Darjecling, and I never saw it above 

 3,000 feet. It affects chiefly wooded districts, but does not inhabit 

 the deep jungles. Towards the South of India it is less familiar 

 than it is in the North, for in Central India, Bengal &c., it is often 

 seen feeding close to houses. It is generally seen alone or in 

 pairs, usually seeks its prey on the ground from a low perch, 

 often hopping a few steps to pick up an insect. When 

 it returns to its perch, it generally elevates its tail and often 

 utters a pleasing warble. Though it frequently raises and depresses 

 its tail, both when perched and on the ground, I cannot say that 

 I have observed the Wagtail-like flirtation of its tail noted by 

 Hodgson, or that it throws its tail back till it nearly touches its 

 head, as Layard has seen. Towards the evening it may often 

 be seen near the top of some tolerably large tree, or other elevated 

 perch, pouring forth its song. I have always found its food to 

 consist of insects of various kinds, small grasshoppers, beetles, 

 worms, &c. Hodgson asserts that in winter they like unripe vetches, 

 and such like ; but this is quite opposed to the usual habits of 

 this group. It breeds generally in thick bushes, or hedges ; some- 

 times in a hole in a bank or tree, and occasionally in a hole in a 

 wall, or on the rafter of a house. The nest is made of roots 

 and grass ; and the eggs, four in number, are bluish white, or pale 



