DENDEOCITTA. OO 



Nidification. This bird breeds freely in the N. Cachar, Khasia 

 and Naga Hills east as far as Lakhimpur but it seems to be 

 much rarer north of the Brahmaputra. I have not personally 

 found it breeding much below 4,000 feet but the Nagas brought 

 in nests and eggs to Dr. Coltart from much lower elevations in 

 Lakhirapur. The nest is a small, neat replica of that of the 

 Himalayan Tree-pie but is much more compact and well put 

 together. They are often built quite low down in scrub-jungle, 

 undergrowth arid even in high weeds and small bushes. The 

 breeding season lasts from the end of April into July. 



The eggs also are similar to those of the last bird but are 

 more handsome and nearly always much more profusely marked. 

 They measure about 27'0 X 19*9 mm. 



Habits. The Black-browed Tree-pie is essentially a bird of 

 heavy evergreen forest, though it affects the more open glades on 

 the outskirts of these. It goes about in small parties of half-a- 

 dozen or so, and has a very musical note rather like, yet easily 

 distinguishable from, the call of its plains' cousins. Like these 

 birds also it has many discordant notes, though it is not nearly as 

 noisy a bird. It does not appear to be a regular egg and young- 

 bird thief, but doubtless despises neither if fate throws them in 

 its way. It eats fruits, seeds and insects but chiefly the last. 

 It is common between 4,000 and 7,000 feet and descends in the 

 winter still lower, coming into the plains themselves in Eastern 

 Assam but not elsewhere. 



(35) Dendrocitta bayleyi. 

 THE ANDAMAK TREE-PIE. 



Dendrocitta bayleyi Tytler, J. A. S. B., xxxii, p. 88 (1863) (Anda- 

 mans) ; Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 34. 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. The feathers round the base of the bill black ; the 

 remainder of the head, neck, upper back and upper breast 

 dark bluish ashy ; lower back, scapulars and rump pale rufous- 

 olive ; upper tail-coverts bluish ashy ; lower breast rufescent 

 ashy ; abdomen, vent and under tail-coverts chestnut ; tail and 

 wing black, the latter with a large white patch on the primaries 

 and outer secondaries. 



Colours of soft parts. Bill, legs, feet and claws black, the sides 

 plumbeous grey ; iris bright yellow, in some rich golden yellow. 

 (Hume.} 



Measurements. Total length about 35u to 360 mm.; wing 

 120 to 126 mm. ; tail from 180 to 230 mm., generally about 210; 

 tarsus and bill from about 25 mm. 



Distribution. Andamans only.- 



Nidification. Nothing on record, but I have 13 eggs collected 

 for me by a Pathan convict which can all be matched by eggs of 



