DEXDROCITTA. 47 



Measuremeaits. Total length about 40() to 420 mm. ; tail about 

 235 10 255 mm.; wing about 155 to 170 mm.; tarsus about 40 mm.; 

 culmen about '37 mm. 



Distribution. Ceylon only. The type-locality must be restricted 

 to Ceylon. 



Nidification. According to Legge, the breeding season of the 

 Cevion Magpie is December to February but eggs collected for me 

 by Mr. J. E, Jenkins weve taken in February and March and two 

 clutches purchased with the skins of tlie old birds from Lazarus, 

 a small dealer in Slave Island, were both taken in April. 



The nest is said to be like that of the preceding bird and to be 

 in tall bushes in evergreen jungle. The eggs are large replicas of 

 those of Cissa chinensis, measuring about 32"2x23-2mm. 



Habits. Apparent]}'' similar to those of the Indian Green 

 Magpie; Legge describes it as haunting evergreen forest up to 

 at least 7,000 feet but also found it in similar forest in the 

 foot-hills. It is a noisy bird, uttering its discordant notes both 

 when perching and flying, so that but for its keeping to very dense 

 cover its voice would have led long ago to its extermination by 

 the plume-hunter. 



Genus DENDROCITTA Gould, 1833. 



In the Tree-pies we have a collecfciou of birds which are closer 

 to Pica than to either Urocissa or Cissa, inasmuch as they have 

 black bills and very numerous stiff", but somewhat short, bristles 

 C(mipletely concealing the nostrils. The bill, however, is short, 

 with the commissure greatly curved and in one species, D. ha)jleiji, 

 the tail approaches the next genus in structure, the central tail- 

 feathers being gradually enlarged throughout their length, not 

 suddenly at the tip as in CrijpsirMna. 



The Tree-pies are sociable, associating in small flocks and tliey 

 are arboreal, seldom descending to the ground. The}' have a series 

 of clear metallic notes, which sound very pleasantly in the jungle. 

 They construct large nests, generally in trees, and lay eggs which 

 are less Corvine in appearance than those of the true Magpies. 

 Their food consists of both fruit and insects. 



Key to SjK'cies. 



A. Tail ashy with black ou terminal half. 



a. Crowu brown, abdomen rufous _D. rnfa, p. 48. 



b. Crown black, abdomen and hind neck 



white JD. leucof/asfra, p. ol. 



c. Crown bkxck, abdomen and hind neck 



ashv D. mne7is{s, p. .52. 



r>. Tail en\ir(4y bhick. 



d. No white spot on wing B. frontalis, p. 54. 



e. AVith a white wing-spot D. hayleyi, p. 55. 



