178 a hand-book of the management of animals 



Observations on the habits of a Green Magpie. 



They are bold and inquisitive birds, and become so tame as to come 

 to tbe side of the cage or aviary to peck off food held to them. They 

 sometimes treat the smaller birds in the same aviary with unsparing 

 cruelty, and fight much among themselves. 



(7) THE INDIAN TREE-PIE. 



(DENDKOCITTA HUFA— {Scop.) ) 

 Bengali — Handi-chdncha, Tdkd-chor. 

 The Indian tree-pie is extremely common, being found all over the 

 country from Kashmir to Travancore and from Assam to Tenasserim, 

 including Mergui, inhabiting the plains at the level of the sea and 

 ascending the Himalayas up to about 7,000 feet ; it is also common in 

 Burmah. 



Length of life in captivity. 



It does not appear to bear captivity well, as no specimen has ever 

 lived for more than about eighteen months ; it is not, however, a delicate 

 bird. No serious attempt has ever been made to keep it alive for a 

 lengthened period owing to the facility of replacing any casualties. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — It never thrives in a cage, and may therefore be treat- 

 ed like the Urocissa (Nos. 4-5). As it is tyrannical in disposition, no 

 small birds should be placed with it. 



Food. — Minced meat, satoo, fruits and various kinds of insects. 



Breeding. — Many of these birds live wild within the garden, where 

 they breed during the summer, generally building their nests of twigs 

 and grass on mango and peepul trees. Nothing is known about their 

 ailments in captivity. 



Observations on the habits of the Indian Tree-pie. 



It is shy, restless and somewhat quarrelsome, seldom coming to 

 the side of the aviary to receive food or to be stroked. The harsh 

 metallic chuckling note so characteristic of this bird in a wild state is not 

 often heard in captivity. Its mental capacity does not appear to be 

 susceptible of education to any appreciable degree. Though common, it 

 is worth exhibiting, as by its particoloured plumage and restless habit 

 of darting across the aviary and flying from perch to perch, it adds much 

 to the effect and liveliness of the show. 



(8) THE HIMALAYAN TEEE-PIE. 

 (DENDEOCITA HIMALAYENSIS— {Blyth.) ) 



Description. — Slightly smaller than the Indian tree-pie, its total length 

 including the tail being about 16 inches. Forehead, lores, and feathers 

 above the eye black ; throat and sides of the head dark sooty brown ; 

 crown of the head, nape and upper part of the neck ashy black, with bluish 



