PICA. 37 



Habits. This Jackdaw is in habits much the same as its western 

 cousin but in the wilder parts of its habitat it is essentially a 

 cliff bird. It is very fond of company, and numerous birds are 

 often seen together, though it can hardly be called gregarious like 

 the Book. Its food consists of all kinds of grain, seeds, fruit and 

 insects. It will also kill and eat mice, lizards and nestlings of 

 other species, though not nearlv to the same extent as the Carrion- 

 Crow or Raven. 



Our Indian and Central Asian bird has been again separated 

 by Kleinschmidt as having the under parts darker and the wing 

 longer than in Russian birds but the fine series in the British 

 Museum does not endorse this diagnosis. 



Genus PICA Brisson, 17fiO. 



There is but one species of Pica in India containing three sub- 

 species which grade into one another in the areas where they 

 meet, but which are well differentiated over large tracts of country 

 in which their characteristics are quite constant. 



Fig. 8. Head of P. pica bactriana. 



Fig. 9. First primary of P. pica bactriana. 



Pica differs from Corvus in having a very long graduated tail 

 and in having a first primary of very peculiar shape. The 

 Magpies are, however, more addicted to well-wooded districts ; 

 they are equally wary and they are almost omnivorous. 



