Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/89

Rh Distribution. This fine little Magpie has its headquarters in Pegu, extending up the valleys of the Irrawaddy and Sittaung to some way north of Thayetmyo and Toungoo. To the west it extends to Bassein, south to Mergui and into Sumatra, Borneo and Java. To the east it extends to Siam, where it is very common in the south, and to Cochin China.

Nidification. The breeding season lasts from April, in which month Hopwood took eggs in Tavoy, through May and June to July, in which latter month Nurse took eggs in Pegu and Herbert found them breeding in Siam. The nest is a typical Magpie's nest, though without a dome. It is a shallow cup of fine twigs, roots and tendrils with a diameter of about 5″ to 6″ by 1″ deep internally and some 9″ in external diameter. It is generally placed in a thorny bush or tree 8 to 12 feet from the ground.

The eggs are two to four in number, typically Corvine in appearance, and average 24·8 × 18·3 mm.

Habits. The Racket-tailed Magpies are birds of comparatively open forest and light bush, tree, or bamboo-jungle. They eat both fruit and insects, and may be seen clinging to the outer branches of trees as they search the leaves and flowers for the latter. They are not gregarious, though sometimes two or three may be seen in company; their usual note is a not unpleasant metallic call, and they do not appear to possess the harsh notes so common to this group.

Vernacular name. Ami-whine (Burmese).

Description. Whole head, chin and throat black; round the neck, next to the black, a ring of ashy white; the whole upper plumage, wing-coverts and inner secondaries vinaceous grey; lower plumage the same but rather more rufous; central tail-feathers black, the others the same colour as the back; primaries and their coverts black; outer secondaries black with ashy-white edges.

Colours of soft parts. Iris blue; eyelids plumbeous; bill black; legs and claws dark brown; inside of the mouth flesh-colour.

Measurements. Total length 300 to 315 mm.; tail 180 to 200 mm.; wing 102 to 108mm.; tarsus about 26 to 27 mm.; culmen about 20 mm.

The young have the head brown; the central tail-feathers and wings are blackish brown and the general colour of the body plumage is less ashy and more vinaceous; the bill is black, with an orange gape and inside to the mouth; the eyelids are pale blue with orange edges.