56 CORVID®. 
himalayensis. They average about 28°5x21-9mm and were 
taken in April and March near Port Blair. 
Habits. Davison obtained this bird near Port Blair and more 
commonly at Mount Harriet and Aberdeen. He observes that it 
is a forest bird and never ventures away from the cover of large 
trees; also that it never descends to the ground. Oates did not 
obtain it either on the Great Cocos or on Table Island. 
Genus CRYPSIRHINA Vieill., 1816 
With this genus we come to the end of the true Magpies or 
Long-tailed Crows. The members of the present genus are sinall 
and are characterized by a tail of peculiar structure, the central 
pair of feathers being spatulate at the ends. The bill is small and 
the nostrils are concealed by a mass of fine velvety plumes, which 
also surround the base of the bill. 
The Racket-tailed Magpies are quite arboreal and in the course 
of many years’ observation Oates never saw one of them on the 
ground. 
Key to Species. 
AG ew Allletanl=feathiens; bl aclausere epee sence ee C. varians, p. 56. 
B. Central tail-feathers black, outer feathers grey. C.cucullata, p. 57. 
Fig. 13.—Head of C. varians. 
(36) Crypsirhina varians. 
THe Buack RaAckKET-TAILED MaGPinr. 
Corvus varians Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl., xxvi, (1801) (Java) ; Blanf. 
& Oates, i, p. 85 
Vernacular names. Ami-whine (Burmese). 
Description. The whole plumage metallic bronze-green, tinged 
with bluish on the head; wings brown, the outer webs of the 
primaries greenish, the other quills nore or less entirely tinged 
with greenish ; tail black, with the same tinge but with more 
sheen ; forehead. round the eye and about the gape dull black, 
the feathers of a velvety texture. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris blue; bill black, mouth flesh-colour ; 
legs and claws black. 
Measurements. Length about 310 to 330 mm.; wing about 110 
to 116 mm.; tail from about 175 to 200 mm. ; tarsus about 30 mm. ; 
culmen about 23 mm. 
