12. Urocissa occipitalis (Bl.). _The Red-billed Blue Magpie_.

Urocissa sinensis (_Linn._), _Jerd. B. Ind._ ii, p. 309.

Urocissa occipitalis (_Bl_.), _Hume, Rough Draft N. & E_. no. 671.

I have never myself found the nest of the Red-billed Blue Magpie;

although it does breed sparingly as far east as Simla and Kotegurh,

it is not till you cross the Jumna that it is abundant. East of the

Jumna, about Mussoorie, Teeree, Grurhwal, Kumaon, and in Nepal, it is

common.

From Mussoorie Captain Hutton tells us that "this species occurs at

Mussoorie throughout the year. It breeds at an elevation of 5000 feet

in May and June, making a loose nest of twigs externally and lined

with roots. The nest is built on trees, sometimes high up, at others

about 8 or 10 feet from the ground. The eggs are from three to five,

of a dull greenish ash-grey, blotched and speckled with brown dashes

confluent at the larger end, the ends nearly equal in size. It is very

terrene in its habits, feeding almost entirely on the ground."

The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, Volume 1 · 第 21 / 260 题