56 COBVID.E. 



himalayensis. They average about 28-5 x 21-9 miii and were 

 taken in April and March near Port Blair. 



Habits. Davison obtained this bird near Port Blair and more 

 commonly at Mount Harriet and Aberdeen, lie observes that it 

 is a forest bird and never ventures away from the cover of large 

 trees; also that it never descends to the ground. Gates did not 

 obtain it either on the Great Cocos or on Table Island. 



Genus CRYPSIRHINA. Vieill., 1810. 



With this genus we come to the end of the true Magpies or 

 Long-tailed Crows. The members of the present- genus are small 

 and are characterized by a tail of peculiar structure, the central 

 pair of feathers being spatulate at the ends. The bill is small and 

 the nostrils are concealed by a mass of fine velvety plumes, which 

 also surround the base of the bill. 



The Eacket-tailed Magpies are quite arboreal and in the course 

 of many years' observation Gates never saw one of them on the 

 ground. 



Key to Species. 



A. All tail-feathers black C. various, p. 56. 



B. Central tail-feathers black, outer feathers grey. C.cucullata, p. 57. 



Fig. 13. Head of C. varians. 



(36) Crypsirhina varians. 

 THE BLACK RACKET-TAILED MAGPIE. 



Corvus varians Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl., xxvi, (1801) (Java) ; Blanf. 

 & Gates, i, p. 35. 



Vernacular names. Ami-whine (Burmese). 



Description. The whole plumage metallic bronze-green, tinged 

 with bluish on the head ; wings brown, the outer webs of the 

 primaries greenish, the other quills more or less entirely tinged 

 with greenish ; tail black, with the same tinge but with more 

 sheen ; forehead, round the eye and about the gape dull black, 

 the feathers of a velvety texture. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris blue ; bill black, mouth flesh-colour ; 

 legs and claws black. 



Measurements. Length about 310 to 330 mm. ; wing about 110 

 to 116 mm. ; tail from about 175 to 200 mm. ; tarsus about 30 mm. ; 

 culmen about 23 mm. 



