PICA. 



37 



Habits. This Jackdaw is iu habits much the same as its western 

 cousin but iu the wikler parts of its habitat it is essentially a 

 cliff bird. It is very fond of company, and numerous birds are 

 often seen togetijer, though it cau hardly be called gregarious like 

 the Rook. Its food consists of all kinds of grain, seeds, fruit and 

 insects. It will also kill and eat mice, lizards and nestlings of 

 other species, though not neai-ly to the same extent as the Carrion- 

 Crow or Eaven. 



Our Indian and Central Asian bird has been again separated 

 by Kleinschinidt as having the under parts darker and the wing 

 longer than iu Jiussian birds but the fine series in the British 

 Museum does not endorse tliis diagnosis. 



Genus PICA Brisson, ITOO. 



There is but one species of Pica in India containing three sub- 

 species "which grade into one another in the areas wliere they 

 meet, but which are well differentiated over large tracts of country 

 in which their characteristics are quite constant. 



Fig. 8. — Head of P. i)ica hactriana. 



Fig. 9. — First primary of P. pica bactriana. 



Pica differs from Corviis in having a very long graduated tail 

 and in having a first primary of very pecuHar shape. The 

 Magpies are, however, more addicted to well-wooded districts ; 

 they are equally wary and they are almost omnivorous. 



