306 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



The wing is longer, the tail not so long as in the European 

 Magpie, and the grey band across the rump of the latter is 

 absent ; the bill too is also slightly longer. 



Adams states that this Magpie inhabits the wildest parts of 

 Ladakh, and, says he, "it is strange that a bird whose near ally is so 

 fond of fertile localities in Europe, should prefer the wastes of 

 little Tibet to the cultivated and wooded mountains of Cashmere, 

 but such is the case ; and the Magpie is the same crafty and 

 familiar bird among his Tartar friends, as with Englishmen." 



Pica bactriana, Bonap., from Affghanistan, is said to be distinct 

 from the Indian bird, more like the European Magpie, and chiefly 

 differing in its longer bill ; but Adams believes it to be identical 

 with the present species. ' Pica sericea, Gould, {media, Blyth,) from 

 China, is another closely allied Asiatic species. This bird, says 

 Swinhoe, roosts in company, sallies out for food, and returns at 

 night cackling, curveting, and with sundry antics. The Magpie of 

 Europe, as is well known, is celebrated for its ability to imitate 

 the human voice, and for its thieving propensities. Besides the 

 species above referred to, there is one from Africa, and one or 

 two from North America. 



The next two families differ from the true Corvints by their more 

 rounded wings, and colours ; comprising various shades of brown, 

 fawn, blue, and green, with black and white in some. They are 

 all more arboreal than the last. 



Sub-fam. GarrulintE, Jays. 



Bill short and conic in some, longer and less conic in others ; 

 the tip often bent down and emarginate ; nares usually tufted ; 

 wings moderate or short, rounded ; 5th quill usually lono-est ; 

 tail moderate or very long and graduated ; tarsus moderate ; feet 

 arboreal, toes rather loncj. • 



The Jays comprise several distinct types, the European Jay 

 being the typical one ; and others, approaching the Magpie in form 

 and length of tail, are found in Asia and America. They are 

 noisy birds, wander about a good deal, and feed on various kind 

 of insects and fruit, occasionally robbing other birds' nests of 

 their eggs or young. 



