20. Dendrocitta bayleyi.
The Andamanese Tree-pie.
Dendrocitta bayleyi, Tytler, J. A. S. B. xxxii, p. 88 (1863); Ball, J. A. S. B. xxxix, pt. ii, p. 242 ; xli, pt. ii, p. 285; id. S. F. i, p. 75 ; Walden, Ibis, 1874, p. 145, pi. vi; Hume, S. F. ii, p. 245; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. iii, p. 82; Hume, Cat. no. 678 bis.
Coloration. The feathers round the base of the bill black; the remainder of the head, neck, upper back, and upper breast dark bluish ashy ; lower back, scapulars, and rump pale rufous-olive; upper tail-coverts bluish ashy ; lower breast rufescent ashy; abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts chestnut; tail and wing black, the latter with a large white patch on the primaries and secondaries.
Bill, legs, feet, and claws black; the soles plumbeous grey ; iris bright yellow, in some rich golden yellow (Hume).
Length up to 14; tail up to 8.5; wing 5; tarsus 1.05; bill from gape 1.05.
Distribution. The Andaman Islands. This Tree-pie was obtained by Davison near Port Blair, where it was not uncommon; but he found it most numerous at Mount Harriet and Aberdeen. He observes that it is a forest bird and never ventures away from the cover of large trees; also that it never descends to the ground. I did not observe it on the Great Cocos nor on Table Island.
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