CRYPSIRHINA. 57 
Distribution. This fine little Magpie has its headquarters in 
Pegu, extending up the valleys of the Irrawaddy and Sittaung to 
some way north of Thavetmyo and Toungoo. To the west it 
extends to Bassein, south to Mergui and into Sumatra, Borneo 
and Java. To the east it extends to Siam, where it is very 
common in the south, and to Cochin China. 
Nidification. The breeding season lasts from April, in which 
month Hopwood took eggs in Tavoy, through May and June to Juiy, 
in which latter month Nurse took eggs in Pegu and Herbert found 
them breeding in Siam. The nest is a typical Magpie’s nest, 
though without a dome. It is a shallow cup of fine twigs, roots 
and tendrils with a diameter of about 5” to 6” by 1" deep intern- 
ally and some 9” in external diameter. It is generally placed in a 
thorny bush or tree 8 to 12 feet from the ground. 
The eggs are two to four in number, typically Corvine in 
appearance, and average 24:8 x 18-3 mm. 
Habits. The Racket-tailed Magpies are birds of comparatively 
open forest and light bush, tree, or bamboo-jungle. They eat both 
fruit and insects, and may be seen clinging to the outer branches of 
trees as they search the leaves and flowers for the latter. They 
are not gregarious, though sometimes two or three may be seen in 
company ; their usual note is a not unpleasant metallic call, and 
they do not appear to possess the harsh notes so common to this 
group. 
(37) Crypsirhina cucullata. 
Tuer Hooprep RacKeT-TAILED MaAGPte. 
Crypsirhina cucullata Jerdon, Ibis, 1862, p. 20 (Lhayetmyo); 
Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 35. 
Vernacular name. Ami-whine (Burmese). 
Description. Whole head, chin and throat black; round the 
neck, next to the black, a ring of ashy white; the whole upper 
plumage, wing-coverts and inner secondaries vinaceous grey ; 
lower plumage the same but rather more rufous; central tail- 
feathers black, the others the same colour as the back; primaries 
and their coverts black ; outer secondaries black with ashy-white 
edges. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris blue ; eyelids plumbeous; bill black ; 
legs and claws dark brown; inside of the mouth flesh-colour. 
Measurements. Total length 300 to 315 mm.; tail 180 to 
200mm.; wing 102 to 108mm.; tarsus about 26 to 27 mm.; 
culmen about 20 mm. 
The young have the head brown; the central tail-feathers and 
wings are blackish brown and the general colour of the body 
plumage is less ashy and more vinaceous; the bill is black, with 
an orange gape and inside tothe mouth; the eyelids are pale blue 
with orange edges. 
