CRYPSIRHINA. 57 



Distribution. This fine little Magpie has its headquarters in 

 Pegu, extending up the valleys of the Irrawaddy and Sittaung to 

 some way north of Thayetmyo and Toungoo. To the west it 

 extends to Bassein, south to Mergui and into Sumatra, Borneo 

 and Java. To the east it extends to Siam, where it is very 

 common in the south, and to Cochin China. 



Nidification. The breeding season lasts from April, in which 

 month Hop\vood took eggs in Tavoy, through May and June to July, 

 in which latter month Nurse took eggs in Pegu and Herbert found 

 them breeding in Siam. The nest is a typical Magpie's nest, 

 though without a dome. It is a shallow cup of fine twigs, roots 

 and tendrils with a diameter of about 5" to 6" by 1" deep intern- 

 ally and some 9" in external diameter. It is generally placed in a 

 thorny bush or tree 8 to 12 feet from the ground. 



The eggs are two to four in number, typically Corvine in 

 appearance, and average 24-8 x 18'3 mm. 



Habits. The Racket-tailed Magpies are birds of comparatively 

 open forest and light bush, tree, or bamboo-jungle. They eat both 

 fruit and insects, and may be seen clinging to the outer branches of 

 trees as they search the leaves and flowers for the latter. They 

 are not gregarious, though sometimes two or three may be seen in 

 company ; their usual note is a not unpleasant metallic call, and 

 they do not appear to possess the harsh notes so common to this 

 group. 



(37) Crypsirhiua cucullata. 

 THE HOODED BACKET-TAILED MAGPIE. 



Crypsirhina cucullata Jerdon, Ibis, 1862, p. 20 (Thayetmyo) ; 

 Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 35. 



Vernacular name. Ami-whine (Burmese). 



Description. Whole head, chin and throat black ; round the 

 neck, next to the black, a ring of ashy white ; the whole upper 

 plumage, wing-coverts and inner secondaries viuaceous grey ; 

 lower plumage the same but rather more rufous; central tail- 

 feathers black, the others the same colour as the back ; primaries 

 and their coverts black ; outer secondaries black with ashy-white 

 edges. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris blue ; eyelids plumbeous ; bill black ; 

 legs and claws dark brown ; inside of the mouth flesh-colour. 



Measurements. Total length 300 to 315 mm.; tail 180 to 

 200mm.; wing 102 to 108mm.; tarsus about 26 to 27 mm.; 

 ciilmen about 20 mm. 



The young have the head brown ; the central tail-feathers and 

 wings are blackish brown and the general colour of the body 

 plumage is less ashy and more viuaceous ; the bill is black, with 

 an orange gape and inside to the mouth ; the eyelids are pale biue 

 with orange edges. 



