in captivity in lower bengal. 17^ 



Observations on the habits of Magpies. 



The queer antics and familiar inquisitiveness of magpies afford great 

 amusement. Although they have frequently been heard to imitate 

 the whistling and cackling sounds of birds living in adjacent cages, 

 none of those exhibited have ever been known to imitate the human 

 voice. Their thieving propensities are well known ; bits of meat, 

 biscuits or any other articles of food are sometimes stowed away in a 

 corner or buried under the sand. Anything bright and shining attracts 

 their attention. A tame magpie likes to be caressed and spoken to, 

 and is somewhat demonstrative ; in short, it makes a very good pet. 



(3) THE BLACK-BUMPED MAGPIE. 



(PICA BOTTANENSIS— Deless.) 



This magpie is much larger than the preceding species. Its 

 distinguishing characteristic is that its rump is entirely black. 



Hub.— Bhutan, Sikhim and Chinese Tibet. 



A single specimen was once obtained from Bhutan, but it only 

 lived a week or ten days. 



(4) THE BED-BILLED BLUE MAGKPIE. 

 (UROCISSA OCCIPITALIS— {Blyth.) ) 



Description. — Head, neck and breast black, an irregular-shaped 

 white patch on the nape continued down to the back of the neck ; some 

 of the feathers of the neck white (though not invariably so) ; wings 

 brown or bluish brown; the quills white-tipped; the tail blue, the 

 two central feathers with broad white tips, the others with back and 

 white tips ; beneath, from the breast, white, tinged with purple. Iris 

 brown ; in very old specimens red ; bill and legs red ; in very young 

 birds the bill is orange red. 



Hab. — It is found in the Himalayas from the extreme north- 

 west to Nepal; said to be common in the Naga hills, about Bhamo, 

 and in Arracan ; generally distributed throughout Burmah. Specimens 

 are now and then brought to Calcutta by China steamers. The 

 Angami Nagas who came to Calcutta during the Exhibition of 1883-84 

 used the tail feathers of this bird for the purpose of decoration. 



(5) THE YELLOW-BILLED BLUE MAG-PIE. 

 (UEOCISSA FLAVIROSTRIS— (Blyth.) ) 



It resembles the red-billed blue magpie in form and colour, but 

 is somewhat smaller. Its distinctive features, as its name implies, are its 

 yellow bill and its generally duller hue. 



Hab. — It also inhabits the Himalayas, from Ladak and Hazara to 

 Bhutan, frequenting higher elevations than its near ally — the red- 

 billed blue magpie. 



