Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/86

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CORVIDÆ.

than the last; the under parts are more uniform in colour and the centre of the abdomen less white. The cheeks, ear-coverts and throat are a paler brown.

Colours of soft parts and Measurements as in D. s. himalayensis but the bill more massive.

Distribution. Burma as far north as the Chin Hills and Shan States and to the west the Pegu and Arrakau Yomas.

Nidification similar to that of D. s. himalayensis.

Habits. A hill bird confined to elevations principally between 1,000 and 4,000 feet, but descending to the foot-hills in the winter. In the summer it is found at least up to 6,000 feet, probably higher.


(34) Dendrocitta frontalis.

The Black-browed Tree-pie.

Dendrocitta frontalis McClell., P. Z. S., 1839, p. 163 (Assam); Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 33.

Vernacular names. Hamshi-bon (Lepcha); Kolio-Ko (Bhutea); Dao-ka-link gaschim (Cachari).


Fig. 12.—Head of D. frontalis.

Description. Forehead, the greater part of the crown, sides of the head, chin, throat, fore neck, tail, wing-quills and the primary-coverts black; the remainder of the wing ash-grey; nape, hind neck, upper back, sides of the neck, breast and upper abdomen pale grey; lower back, scapulars, rump, upper tail-coverts, lower abdomen, thighs and under tail-coverts chestnut, the thighs tinged with brown.

Colours of soft parts. Bill and legs black; irides red-brown, often very bright.

Measurements. Total length about 370 to 380 mm.; tail 245 to 255 mm.; wing 120 to 126 mm.; tarsus about 30 mm.; culmen about 25 mm.

Distribution. Himalayas from Eastern Nepal to the extreme east and south of Assam into the higher hills of Manipur, but apparently not into Lushai or Chin Hills.