( 3 ) 



INDIAN HOUSE CROW. 



The Indian House Crow habits the same as those of the last. 

 It has, however, a light grey neck and is found, I believe, along the 

 Arracan coast. 



(No. 7. Corvus splendens.} 



THE CHINESE MAGPIE. 



The Chinese Magpie is practically the same as the familiar English 

 bird, which has, with slight variations, a very wide distribution right 

 across Europe and Asia. He is not generally found in Burma, but 

 is very common in the Shan States, and gets more and more plentiful 

 the further east or north one goes. The only place in Burma proper 

 where he is found is round Bhamo where he is fairly common. He 

 wants no description with his well-known black and white plumage 

 and long tail which is being continually cocked up over his back. 

 They build the same conspicuous domed nest as at home, with its 

 roof of thorns as a protection. It was owing to the taking of the 

 eggs of this old familiar friend which re-awakened in me my 

 keenness in bird's nesting and egg collecting in which I had not 

 indulged since my school days. 



1 may here add that it is a much more interesting occupation out 

 here than at home, owing to the far greater variety, but, at the same 

 time, owing to the climate, it is a much harder one. Nests are not so 

 easy to find, as birds out here have many more enemies to contend 

 with, and so, accordingly, take greater care to conceal them. One 

 has first to learn the hibits of the different birds before one can 

 hope to find their nests, as each bird has its own particular breeding 

 season, and this is carried through the year, different birds nesting 

 in every month. 



But to return to our friend the Magpie. He is a very common 

 bird in the Eastern Shan States, and 1 believe the further east one 

 goes the more he takes the place of the crows. He is an early 

 breeder, nesting in February and March, and lays five or six eggs of 

 a greenish ground colour, with brown spots and markings. It is 

 found commonly in the Northern and Southern Shan States and 

 round Bhamo. 



(No. loa. Pica sericea.) 



THE RED-BILLED BLUE IVIAQPIE. 



The Red-Billed Blue Magpie, [n many parts of Burma this is 

 one of our most conspicuous, as well as noisy birds, calling attention 

 to itself by its chatter, as it flies through the jungle in parties of 

 about half a dozen or more. The prevailing colour is blue with 

 bright coral-red bill and legs. Its two central tail feathers are 



