38 CORVID®. 
Pica pica. 
Key to Subspecies. 
A. A white rump, sometimes reduced to a 
dull grey band. 
:(Gloss"on' wingstgrepin sansi= 5) esis P. p. bactriana, p. 88. 
b. Gloss on wings Bliest ea eee ocicrchs P, p. serica, p. 39. 
B. Rump wholly incl es Met t. P. p. bottanensis, p. 39. 
(16) Pica pica bactriana. 
THe Kasumirn MaGpin. 
Pica bactriana Bonap., Conspect., i, p. 383 (1850) (Kandahar). 
Pica rustica. Blant. & Oates, i, p. 24. 
Vernacular names. Axkha (Cabul); Ag 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 from the British "Magpie in having a broader white 
rump band. It is said also to be larger; aaron gives the 
European bird a wing of 155 to 193mm. and bactriana a wing of 
210mm. 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 dark brown; bill and legs black. 
Measurements. Wing 182 to 227mm., generally well over 
200mm.; tail anything from 200 to 270 mm., usually about 
240 mm.; culmen 30 to 82mm.; tarsus from 40 to 45mm. 
Distribution. Throughout Northern Asia to Kamschatka and 
South to South. Persia, Afghanistan and Kashmir. It is found 
also in Kumaun, the Simla Hills and Garhwal, but not apparently 
in Nepal. 
Nidification. The 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 w ell up in a fairly high tree but 
sometimes comparatively low down 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 reddish brown, scattered profusely all over the ege but more 
numerous at the larger end. They average 35:7 x 24-4 mm. 
The breeding season is from early April to late May, according 
to elevation. 
