278 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 



130. Pica media, Blyth. 



Does not occur in the desert of Gobi. From Kiachta to Urgey, and 

 about fifty versts further^ on the Kalgan road, we met with P. leucoptera very 

 frequently ; afterwards it disappeared throughout the Gobi desert, making 

 its appearance in the Zahar country with the present species (P. media). 



Undoubtedly P. media and P. leucoptera are very close to the European 

 Magpie, and do not differ from it either in their habits or voice. 



P. media is extremely common in the wooded parts of S.E. Mongolia, 

 and by no means scarce in the Hoang-ho valley ; but in Ala-shan it inhabits 

 only the wooded mountain-chains, and the neighbourhood of Din-un-in. In 

 Kan-su it seems to be replaced by the succeeding species. 



When we were staying at Muni-ul we often saw these Magpies leaving 

 the mountains for the sandy plains, where they occupy themselves, in company 

 with Kites, catching lizards. 



131. Pica bottanensis, Delles. Soroka butanskaya. 



Pica bottanensiSj Gould_, Birds of Asia_, part xv. pi. 



Inhabits Tsaidam and Kan-su (in the latter locality usually in company 

 with the succeeding species), in the wooded mountain-parts, sometimes 

 ascending to the alpine regions. We did not find it in Northern Tibet or 

 Koko-nor. 



Measurements of the male — length 20'', width 27'', wing 10", tail (central 

 feathers) 11", gape l"-82, tarsus 2''-12. 



132. Cyanopolius cyanus. Pall. SoroJca golubaya, 



Cyanopolius cyanus^ Temm. & ScHeg. Faun. Japon. pi. xlii. 



In the Guchin-gurb mountains of S.E, Mongolia we met with this 

 species, but did not find it either in the Ala-shan or in the Hoang-ho 

 valley, although it is very abundant in Kan-su, where it usually keeps in the 



