38 coRTiD.i;. 



Pica pica. 



Key to Subspecies, 



A. A white rump, sometimes reditcod to a 

 dull grey band. 



a. Gloss oii'wings oreen P. p. hactriana, p. ;J8. 



h. Gloss on wiiio-s blue P. 2^. serica, p. 39. 



P). Rump wholly blaclc P. P- hottanensis, p. 39. 



(10) Pica pica bactriana. 



The Kasiijiir Magpie, 



Pica huctritma Bonap., Conspect., i, p. 383 (1850) (Kandahar). 

 Pica rustica. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 24. 



Vernacular names. Alcha (Cabul^); Aq aq (Mesop.). 



Description. The entire head and neck, the upper plumage, 

 breast, thighs, vent and under tail-coverts black, the rump with a 

 broad white band across it; scapulars, abdomen, and the greater 

 portion of the primaries white ; wings brilliantly glossed with 

 blue, and the tail with green, lilac and purple. 



Differs fi'om the British Magpie in having a broader white 

 rump band. It is said also to be larger; Hartert gives the 

 European bird a wing o£ 15.5 to 193 mm. and bactriana a wing of 

 210 mm. and over. I find, however, that whilst many English 

 birds have a wing of over 210 mm., many Indian specimens have 

 it under 190 mm. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris darlv brown ; bill and legs black. 



Measurements. Wing 182 to 227 mm., generally well over 

 200 mm.; tail anything from 200 to 270 mm., usually about 

 240 mm. ; culmen 30 to 32 mm.; tarsus from 40 to 4-5 mm. 



Distribution. Throughout Northern Asia to Kamschatka and 

 South to South Persia, Afghanistan and Kashmir. It is fouiul 

 also in Kuiiiaun, the Simla Hills and Garhwal, but not apparently 

 in ]Vepal. 



Nidification. Tiie Kashmir Magpie seems to be resident and 

 to breed wherever found. It is very common in Kashmir, breeding 

 in great numbers between 6,000 and 10,000 feet, making a nest 

 like that of others of its tribe — a cup of twigs, bents and roots with 

 a dome of twigs, often with moss, thorns, and lined with roots or 

 wool. It is usually placed well up in a fairly high tree but 

 sometimes comparatively low do\^n in thorny bushes. The eggs 

 number four to seven and are indistinguishable from those of the 

 Common Magpie. The ground-colour is a pale sea-blue green 

 and the markings consist of small blotches, freckles and spots of 

 dull z'eddisli brown, scattered profusely all over the egg but more 

 numerous at the larger end. Tliey average 35'7 x 24*4 mm. 



The breeding season is from early^ April to late Ma}-^, according 

 to elevation. 



