CORVIN.Ii. 305 



a minute white speck at their tip ; secondaries and tertials largely 

 spotted at the tip ; tail broadly tipped white, except the two 

 central tail feathers ; under tail-coverts pure white. 



Bill horny brown ; legs black. Length nearly 15 inches : 

 wing 8^; tail 6^ ; tarsus H ; bill at front 1^; height ^. In this 

 species the bill is much more slender than in the last, and the 

 Avings reach to within 2 inches of the end of the tail, which is 

 much rounded. 



This line species of Nutcracker has only been found on the hills 

 of the North-western Himalayas, and Cashmere. 



The next group is that of the true Magpies, wliich differ much 

 in their long and highly graduated tail, and pied plumage. 



Gen. Pica, Brisson. 



Syn. — Cleptes, Gambel and Gray. 



Char. — Bill much as in Corvus, but more slender ; wings long ; 

 1st quill spurious; 3rd nearly equal to 4th and 5th, which are 

 longest ; tail long, graduated ; legs and feet strong. Of black and 

 white plumage. 



The Magpies are smaller birds than the Crows, and of slighter 

 build. They are very omnivorous, cunning, and wary ; and they 

 build large domed nests of sticks with the entrance at one side, and 

 lined with mud. They are chiefly inhabitants of the temperate 

 and Northern portions of both Continents. One species inhabits 

 the confines of the Himalayas, just coming within our limits. 



668. Pica bottanensis, Delesseet. 



Rev. Zool. 1840— Blyth, Cat. 459— Horsf., Cat. 827— P. 

 megaloptera, Blyth, J. A. S., XL 193— P. tibetana, Hodgs. 



The Himalayan Magpie. 

 Descr. — Glossy black, with the scapulars, abdomen, and inner 

 webs of the primaries (except at the tip) pure white. 



Length 18 to 20 inches ; wing 9^ to 10 ; tail lOf ; bill at front 

 If ; tarsus 2|-. 



This Magpie has been found in Bootan, and in various parts 

 of the extreme limit of the Indian region bordering on Tibet. 



2 Q 



