42 COKVID^. 



Distribution. I^.W. Ilinuilayas through Nepal and Sikkim to 

 Tihet. 



Nidification. Tliis bird breeds commonly over a great portion 

 of the lliinahiyas in the north-west at elevations between 5,000 

 and 10,000 feet. The nest is a roughl}^ made cup of twigs and 

 coarse roots lined witli finer roots and fern rachides, and generally 

 placed some 10 to 20 feet from the gj-ouiid in a small tree in 

 evergreen forest. The eggs, which number three to six, vary 

 very much in colour. The ground ranges from a very pale 

 yellowisli stoue-colour to a darkisli, rather reddish stone-colour; 

 rarely there is a faint green tinge but this is quite exceptional. 

 The markings consist of small specks and blotciies, or all small 

 irregular blotches, of various shades of brown, sienna or reddish 

 brown, wilh a few underlying ones of pale sienna and purple. As 

 a rule they are richly marked handsome eggs but are not, as they 

 have often been desci'ibed, like tho*e of Mngpies except in general 

 character. Thej" measure about 33-9 x 23-9 mm. 



Habits. This Blue Magpie is found in small parties, probably 

 consisting ol' the parent birds and their last brood. They keep 

 much to evergreen forest at elevations between 5,000 and 12,000 

 feet, descending lower in the winter but never to the plains as 

 does the next bird. Their flight is slow and undulating and they 

 are rather noisy birds, especially during the breeding season. 

 According to Col. Eattray, they are much given to feeding on the 

 ground. Like all Magpies they are said to be addicted to stealing 

 eggs and young of other birds. 



(21) Urocissa melanocephala magnirostris. 



The Bukmese Eed-billed Blue Magpie. 



Psilorhinm magnirostris BIyth, J. A. S. B., xv, p. 27 (1846) (Ya Ma 



Ding Mt.). 

 Urocissa occipitalis. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 2(5. 



Vernacular name, llnet-daiu-inja. (Burmese). 



Description. Differs from occipitalis in having a dnrker back, 

 more suffused with purple-blue, and it also differs both from that 

 bird and from mehmocepliala in having no white tips to the 

 primaries. 



Colours of soft parts as m melanocephala. 



Measurements. This is a slightly larger bird than occipitalis, 

 with a uing of about 200 to 210 uim. and a much larger bill, 

 3fi to 37 mill. 



Distribution. Hills south of the Brahmaputra, Manipur and 

 Burma to Slam. It is very rare in the Khasia, N. Cachar and 

 Manipu!' Hills, but more common in the Naga Hills and compara- 

 tivelv common in the Chin and Kachin Hills, West Shan States 

 and North Siam. 



