44 CORVIDJE. 



Distribution. Bhutan, Sikkim and hills X. of the Brahma- 

 putra, probably Eastern Nepal. Cliin Hills. 



Nidification. I have one egg of this race from Chambi, north 

 of Sikkim, taken from the usual twig nest at an elevation of some 

 9,000 or 10,000 feet. The egg is erythristic and almost certainly 

 abnormal. The ground-colour is a .very pale cream and the 

 markings are bright reddish brown with others underlying of 

 pale neutral tint. It measures 32-0 x '22-9 min. and was taken 

 on the 7th May. 



Habits. These probably do not differ from those of the better 

 known Western form but it may be a bird of higher elevations, as 

 my collectors assured me they met with it in Chambi in Tibet at 

 about 11,000 feet. It is found at 6,000 to 8,000 feet round about 

 Darjeeling and keeps much to the evergreen forests. 



A form of this Magpie extends well into Burma, but the only 

 skin I have seen thence differed in many respects from the normal 

 type, and further material may prove it to be a new subspecies. 



(23) Urocissa flavirostris cucullata. 

 THE WESTERN YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE. 

 Urocissa cucullata Gould, B. of A., v, pi. 51 (1861) (Kulu Valley). 

 Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Similar to the last but altogether a paler bird, 

 and more especially so in the lower parts, which are almost pure 

 white with scarce a tinge of lilac. 



Distribution. N.W. Himalayas and W. Nepal. 



Nidification. This Magpie breeds wherever found above 

 5,000 feet. It is common at Simla and again in the galis in the 

 Murree Hills, where Rattrav, Buchanan and others have taken 

 many nests. The breeding season appears to be May but 

 Major Lindsay Smith took one nest as late as the 15th July. 

 It lays three or four eggs and both these and the nests are much 

 like those of the Bed-billed Magpie. As a whole, however, the 

 eggs are duller and not so boldly marked. They measure 33'8 x 

 23-1 mm. (60 eggs) and do not differ in shape or texture from 

 those of occipitalis. 



Habits. This Magpie, like the red-billed bird, haunts prin- 

 cipally evergreen forests and heavy jungle. It is equally 

 omnivorous and equally an enemy to small mammals, unfledged 

 young of other birds, and to insects of all kinds. It eats fruit 

 greedily in captivity and probably also in a wild state. It is a 

 shy and rather retiring bird and is never found in the vicinity 

 of villages and cultivation. The call is very harsh and penetrating, 

 and during the breeding season is freely indulged in. 



