IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 179 



reflexions ; lower back and scapulars dirty brown, rump and upper-tail 

 coverts ashy wings and the wing- coverts black ; with the exception of 

 the first two, all the primaries have a patch of white at their base ; two 

 central tail-feathers ashy with broad black tips, the outer tail-feathers 

 black ; lower parts from the throat brown, becoming paler towards the 

 abdomen. Bill black or horny black, irides red-brown. 



Sab. — Found throughout the Himalayas, from the valley of the 

 Sutlej to Sadiya, ranging through the hill tracts of Assam to Tenasserim. 

 It is not known to occur in the plains, but is found in the hills only, at 

 an elevation from 2,000 to 7,000 feet. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 One has been living in the garden during the last six years. 



(9) THE BLACK-BBOWED TEEE-PIE. 

 (DENDEOCITTA FBONTALIS-JIfcCZeK) 



About the same size as the Himalayan tree-pie, the total length 

 including tail about 15 inches. The distinctive feature of this species as 

 compared with the preceding one is that there is more black in its 

 colouring ; the forehead, the greater part of the top of the head and its 

 sides, chin, throat, forepart of the neck, tail, wing quills and the primary 

 coverts being all black ; nape, back of the neck, upper part of the back, 

 breast and upper abdomen ashy grey ; lower back, scapulars, upper tail- 

 coverts, rump, lower abdomen, chestnut or chestnut brown : bill horny 

 black. 



Sab. — Found in the Himalayas from Nepal to the extreme east of 

 Assam. 



Length of life in captivity. 



A specimen has been living in the garden for upwards of four 

 years. 



With regard to Tkeatment in health and Sickness, both the 

 Himalayan and the black-browed tree-pie may be treated like the 

 Indian tree-pie. Details of treatment should, however, always be 

 varied according to individual temperament and surrounding circum- 

 stances. On one or two occasions this bird has been tried with 

 others in a large aviary, but this has not answered, as they are 

 extremely quarrelsome and cruel, readily pouncing upon other birds. 

 It appears better, upon the whole, to give them a cage to themselves 

 and keep them in a place comparatively less frequented. A cold bath is 

 indispensable for them during the hot weather. 



Observations on the habits of the Himalayan and the Black- 

 browed Tree-Pie. 



Both these species appear to be extremely shy, and untameable; 

 those that have lived in the garden for three or four years are still almost 

 as wild as they were on their first arrival, and on their cages being 

 approached they become very restless, as if frightened and surprised. 

 Their chuckling note is very discordant. 



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