46 CORVID. 
the bright green a dull blue whilst the red also fades greatly, 
young birds. occasionally have the whole lower parts almost white 
and in some adults the green is partially replaced by bright azure- 
blue. 
Distribution. Himalayas from the Jamna Valley to the extreme 
east of Assam, North and South of the Bramaputra, Eastern 
Bengal, Burma, Shan States and Northern Siam. 
Nidification. The breeding season in the Himalayas commences 
in the last few days of March and continues through April and May, 
a few birds laying in June and even in July but. these latter may 
be second broods. They build cup-shaped nests of twigs, leaves, 
grass, roots and bamboo-leaves, lined with roots and placed on a 
high bush, small sapling or a clump of bamboos. The eggs number 
from four to six, in Burma often only three and are very magpie- 
like in their seneral appearance, but more grey and not green in 
general tone. Here and there a rather reddish clutch may be 
found and even more rare, a clutch that is almost white. They 
ineasure on an average for 200 eggs 30-2 x 22:9 mm. 
This Jay breeds at all elevations from the foot-hills to nearly 
4,000 feet, but is not common above 2,500 feet. 
Habits. This beautiful Magpie is an inhabitant of low- 
level, evergreen forests and heavy jungle, but may also be found 
in bamboo-jungle and the more dry, deciduous forests, such as 
oak, etc. In Burma they seem to ‘be more often found in dry 
open parts than in the heavier evergreen cover. Their name 
“ Hunting Jay,” or ‘* Hunting Magpie,” is well applied, as they 
are determined hinders of big insect life and of small unfledged 
birds, etc., and for their quarry they will regularly quarter the 
country they work over. ‘hey feed alike on high trees, serub- 
jungle and actually on the ground itself. Their notes are very 
harsh and strident and they. are rather noisy birds although shy 
and wild. 
(25) Cissa ornata. 
THE CEYLONESE MaGPIn. 
Pica ornata Wager, Isis, 1829, p. 749 (India Orientali), 
Cissa ornata. Blanf. & Oates, 1, p. 29. 
Vernacular names. Aahibella (Ceylon). 
Description. Whole head, neck, upper back and upper breast 
rich chestnut ; remainder of the body plumage bright blue, suffused 
with cobalt next the chestnut of the neck; tail “blue tipped with 
white and subterminally with black ; wing-coverts brown, more or 
less margined and suffused with blue ; “quills chestnut on the 
outer webs, black on the inner, changing to blue on the inner 
secondaries ; thighs dusky purple. 
i" Colours of soft parts. Iris light brown to dark brown; eyelid 
deep red; orbital skin somewhat paler; bill, legs and feet coral- 
red, claws more horny and yellowish at their bases. 
