Colours of soft parts. Bill black, legs and feet duller black; iris brown to red-brown.
Measurements. Length about 475 mm.; tail 250 to 300 mm.; wing about 140 to 155 mm.; tarsus about 30mm. and culmen about 25 mm.
Distribution. Southern India from South Travancore to the Wynaad. McMaster records a specimen from Chikalda in the Gawilgarh Hills, apparently a straggler only. It keeps principally to the western coast.
Nidification. Nest and eggs of this bird were taken by Bourdillon in March and by Mr. J. Stewart from February to May and again in August, and the latter gentleman informs me that they breed twice in the year. The nest is similar to that of the preceding bird and is placed in small trees and high bushes but it is always built in heavy forest and never near villages. Three eggs only are most often laid but four is not uncommon and sometimes two only are incubated. In general appearance they cannot be separated from those of himalayensis, described below.
Fifty eggs average 28·2 x 20·5 mm.
Habits. Found from the foot of the lulls up to about 5,000 feet, generally below 3,000 feet. The flight, voice and general habits are like those of the Common Indian Tree-pie but this bird is essentially an inhabitant of heavy forest and shuns the immediate vicinity of mankind.
Dendrocitta sinensis.
Key to Subspecies.
| A. |
Central tail-feathers pale grey, with no black tip.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
D. s. sinensis, p. 52. |
- B. Central tail-feathers darker grey, with a black tip.
| a. |
Paler and brighter in colour; vent and centre of abdomen almost white.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
D. s. himalayensis, p. 52. |
| b. |
Darker and duller in colour; vent and centre of abdomen ashy.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
D. s. assimilis, p. 53. |
(32) Dendrocitta sinensis himalayensis.
The Himalayan Tree-pie.
- Dendrocitta himalayensis Blyth, Cat., p. 92 (1865) (Himalayas); Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 32.
Vernacular names. Kokia-Kak (at Mussoorie); Karrio-pho (Lepcha); Karriah-ban (Bhutea); Kok-long-ah (Assam); Dao-ka-link (Caehari); Inrui-ko-kink (Naga).
Description. Forehead, lores and feathers above the eye black; sides of the head, chin and throat dark sooty-brown, fading and spreading over the sides of the neck and breast; crown of the head, nape and upper back ashy; back and scapulars clear brownish buff; rump and upper tail-coverts ashy; wings and their coverts
