CROW TRIBE. 



the wings dull azure, brighter on the quills, the primaries being spotted with 

 white; the tail is azure-blue, broadly tipped with white; the head and entire 

 throat are black, all the feathers of the fore -part of the crown being tipped 



ifelt 



RED-BILLED BLUE MAGPIE (f nat. size). 



with lavender -grey, and the under surface 

 of the body being light grey. The red- 

 billed species ( U. occipitalis), which is the 

 one represented in our figure, extends 

 throughout the Himalaya, from the north- 

 west to Nipal, where it is chiefly confined 

 to the outer ranges. It lives in small 

 parties containing from two or three to 

 half a dozen birds, and breeds from March 

 to July. The open nest is built at a 

 variable elevation above the ground, and 

 is formed of twigs and branches, lined 

 with fine roots. The number of eggs 

 ranges from three to five; their colour 

 being similar to that characterising those 

 of the common magpie. When feeding, 

 these birds are generally on the ground. The head, neck, and breast of the red- 

 billed magpie are black ; a large patch on the nape is white ; back, scapulars, and 



