20 



Breeding Range: Probably the whole of the Iberian peninsula, but 

 possibly the birds which are found north of the Sierra Guadarrama belong 

 to the typical race. Hartert has examined specimens from Madrid, Toledo 

 and Portugal as well as from southern Spain. 



This race (intermediate between the European and Moorish birds) is 

 very plentiful in some districts in Spain and Portugal, but entirely absent 

 from others. Near Aranjuez it is very common, and this is also the case 

 in some parts of Andalucia. It frequently acts as foster parent to the 

 Great Spotted Cuckoo. 

 Nest. The nests are sometimes placed at a considerable height, but are also 



frequently only a few feet from the ground; and have been found in thick 

 bramble bushes. Noble says that nests in brambles are often not roofed in, 

 and I have found several of this type in big poplars by the Tajo. One, 

 found on May 2, 1905, was actually built in a patch of thick reeds, about 6 

 feet above the water! 

 Eggs. The clutch varies in number from 5 to 8, and the eggs are similar 



in appearance to those of the typical race. An abnormally coloured egg in 

 the British Museum is pale blue with a cap of very dark sepia at the 

 small end. 

 Measure- Average of 50 eggs 33.7 X 23.8 mm.. Max. 38.5 X 26 mm., Min. 



ments. 29.8X23.3 and 32.5X23 mm. Average weight of 19 eggs 575 mg. 



[The Moorish Magpie, P. pica mauritamca Malh. is the resident species 

 in Marocco, Algeria and Tunis. Breeding Season early in May. Average 

 of 50 eggs (Konig 27, Erlanger 4 and 19 in Brit. Mus. etc.) 32.8 X 23.27 mm., 

 Max. 38X23.7 and 31.2 X 25 mm., Min. 30 X 23 and 31 X 22 mm. Average 

 weight of 26 eggs 560 mg. (Konig). In appearance the eggs do not differ 

 from those of the other race. 



The eggs of the North Asiatic race, P. pica hactriana Bp. are con- 

 siderably larger than those of the European form. According to Tacza- 

 nowski they range in size from 33 X 23 to 38 X 25 and 37 X 25.4 mm.] 



7. Azure winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyana cooki Bp. 



Plate 41, fig. 12—15 (near Madrid). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl., Tab. XLI, fig. 8. Baedeker, Tab. 50, 

 fig. 15. Ibis 1866, pi. X, fig. 3—8.* 



Foreign Names: Portugal: Mahilongo, Charneco. Spain: Moliino, 

 JRahilargo, Oarrula; in Leon, Buipego. 



Cyanopica cooki Bp. Dresser, Birds of Europe, IV, p. 503; id. Man. 

 Pal. Birds, p. 416. C. cyaniis coold Bp. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 24. 



* The egg of the E. Siberian form, C. cyana cyana (Pall.) is figured in the 

 J. f. O. 1873, Tab. II, fig. 19. 



