40 COEVID^E. 



J. A. S. 3. xlvii, pt. ii,p. 21 ; Hume, Cat. no. 669 ; Scully, S. F. 

 viii, p. 327 ; Hume, S. F. xi, p. 257 j Oates in Hume's N. $ E. 

 2nd ed. i, p. 28. 

 Garrulus ornatus. J. E. Gray in Hardw. III. Ind. Zool. i, pi. 23. 



fig. 2 (1832) ; Blyth, Cat. p. 94. 

 Lho-Karrio-pho, Lepch. 



Coloration. A broad black moustachial band; lower part of rump, 

 upper and under tail-coverts, vent and thighs white ; with these 

 exceptions the whole plumage of the head, neck, and body is a rich 

 vinaceous fawn-colour ; tail black, with some interrupted ashy bars 

 near the base of the central pair of feathers ; lesser and median 

 wing-coverts like the back; winglet, primary-coverts, the outer 

 greater coverts and the outer webs of most of the secondaries, on 

 their basal half, bright blue banded with black ; remainder of the 

 greater coverts, and quills black, the primaries with some portion 

 of the outer web grey ; the innermost tertiary partially chestnut. 



Bill dusky; margins of eyelids dull brick-red; iris reddish 

 brown ; tarsi and toes pale pinkish fleshy ; claws livid {Scully). 



Length about 12 ; tail 6 ; wing 6'5 ; tarsus 1-4 ; bill from gape 1-2. 



Distribution. Throughout the lower ranges of the Himalayas 

 from Eastern Kashmir to Bhutan and also in the Khasi hills : 

 apparently ranging up to 7000 feet. 



Habits, fyc. Breeds from March to June, constructing a cup- 

 shaped nest of twigs and grass, lined with finer grass, in a fork of 

 a tree and laying from four to six eggs. These are like those of 

 the last species and measure 1*15 by *85. 



Genus NUCIFRAGA, Briss., 1760. 



The genus Nucifraga contains the Nutcrackers, birds of well- 

 marked form and colour, two of which are found within Indian 

 limits inhabiting the higher parts of the Himalayas, where they are 

 resident. 



In the Nutcrackers the plumage is more or less spotted ; the 

 bill is straight, pointed, and about as long as the head ; the naral 

 bristles are short and stiff and completely cover the nostrils ; the 

 wings are strong, but the tail is short and very little rounded. 



The Nutcrackers are chiefly arboreal in their habits and they 

 prefer forests of pine and cedar trees, on the seeds of which they 

 largely subsist ; but they also eat other seeds and fruits and also 

 insects. Their notes are harsh and loud. They build large nests, like 

 those of crows, high up in trees, and their eggs are spotted with brown. 



Near this genus should come Podoces, a genus of birds found in 

 Tibet and Central Asia. Hume inserts one species in his Cata- 

 logue ; but it does not occur within strict Indian limits. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Hump and upper tail-coverts not marked 



with white t N. hemispila, p. 41. 



b. Rump and upper tail-coverts marked 



with white N, multipunctata, p. 41. 



