Indian Magpie. ' 

 Dendrocitta rufa. 



II.— THE MAGPIE. 



"Proud and pert as is a Pie." — Chaucer. 



The common Indian Magpie {Dendrocitta ruja) is 

 oertainly not the equal in pride and pertness of the 

 European bird which Chaucer knew. For one thing 

 it has less to be proud of, being soberly costumed in 

 cinnamon and silver-grey instead of snow-white and 

 glossy black like Pica rustica at home. Nor does 

 it come down on the ground and swagger about there ; 



