DENDROCITTA. A7 
Measurements. Total length about 400 to 420 mm.; tail about 
235 to 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 
Cevlon Magpie is December to February but eges collected for me 
by Mr. J. E. Jenkins were taken in February and March and two 
clutches purchased with the skins of the 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 32-2 x 23°2 mm. 
Habits. Apparently 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 weuld have led long ago to its extermination bv 
the plume-hunter. 
Genus DENDROCITTA Gould, 1833. 
In the Tree-pies we have a collection of birds which are closer 
to Pica than to either Urocissa or Cissa, inasmuch as they have 
black bills and very numerous stiff, but Some Hat short, bristles 
completely concealing the nostrils. The bill, however, is short, 
with the commissure greatly curved and in one species, D. bayleyi, 
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 Cr ypsirhina. 
The Tree-pies are sociable, associating in small flocks and they 
are arboreal, seldom descending to the ground. They have a series 
of clear metallic notes, which sound very pleasantly in the jungle. 
They construct large nests, generally in trees, and lay eges which 
are less Corvine in appearance than those of the true Magpies. 
Their food consists of both fruit and insects. 
Key to Species. 
A. ‘Tail ashy with black on terminal half, 
a. Crown brown, abdomen rufous ........ D. rufa, p. 48. 
b. Crown black, abdomen and hind neck : 
WHEN societies tata ats !s D, leucogastra, p. 51. 
c. Crown black, abdomen and hind “neck 
BLD itn Blec: cane chest) Se ee ae D. sinensis, p. 52. 
B. Tail entir ely black. 
d, No white spot on wing............ -.. LU. frontals, p. 54. 
e. With a white wing-spot SEI eae ae D. bayleyi, p. 55. 
