50 CORT.TD.5:. 



Tlieir flight is dipping and consists of alternative fappings of tlie 

 wings with short spells of sailings with the wings stiflly outspread. 



This Magpie is everywhere one of the most familiar of birds, 

 frequenting gardens and the outskirts of towns and villages and 

 not penetrating into tlie wilder parts. 



The type locality of rufa was certainly somewhere in South 

 India, probably Malabar and therefore that place may be now 

 designated. 



(27) Dendrocitta rufa vagabunda. 

 The Bengal Tree-pie. 

 Coracias vafjalunda Lath., Tnd. Orn., p. 171 (1790) (India). 



Vernacular names. Bohalinlc (Europeans Bengal); Kotri 

 (Hindi in Beng.) ; TaTclca-chor, Handi-chaclm (Bengali); Kash- 

 Jcurshi (N. Cachar) ; Khola-Khoa (Assam.) ; Dao la-Unlc (Cachari). 



Description. Difiers from the last in being more richly coloured ; 

 the iiead is blackish and the red of the back is almost chestnut 

 and the fulvous red below also much richer. 



Colours of soft parts as in rufa. 



Measurements. Wing 145 to 172 mm. ; tail 209 to 253 mm. 



Distribution. JNorthern India from Garhwal to Eastern Assam, 

 Behar, U. Provinces, Bengal and Manipur. 



The type locality may be restricted to Calcutta. 



Nidification. Similar to that of the last bird and neither nest 

 nor egg can be distinguished. 



Habits. An equally confiding, common bird, being found in 

 flocks in gardens and parks in the centre of Calcutta and haunting 

 the immediate vicinity of every town and village. 



(28) Dendrocitta rufa sclateri, subsp. uov. 



The Chin Hills Tree-pie, 



Description. Similar to D. rufa rufa but with the \\hole 

 plumage very pale and washed out and the dark grey of the head 

 gradually merging with the pale dull rufous-brown or rufous-grey 

 of the back. 



Colours of soft parts as iu the rest of the subspecies. 

 Measurements. Wing 142 to 161 mm. ; tail 242 to 287 mm., 

 generally well over 260 mm. 



Distribution. Chin and Kachin Hills. 

 Nidification and Habits. Nothing recorded. 

 Type. No. 1905—9. 10. 6. Brit. Mus. Coll., Mt. Victoria, 

 1,600 feet. 



