Genus UR0CISSA

The genus Urocissa contains a few brightly plumaged Magpies which are found in India and China. They diner from the true Magpies in having the nostrils, which are covered by rather soft plumes, not by stiff bristles, situated near the base of the bill; in having a longer tail and a bill which is red or yellow but never black.

Key to Species.
A. Bill red. Nuchal white patch large,
reaching to the end of the black on the
hind neck U. melanocephala, p. 40.
B. Bill yellow. Nuchal patch small, not
reaching to the end of the black U. flavirostris, p. 43.
Urocissa melanocephala.
Key to Subspecies*
A. Patch on the head pale blue U.m. melanocephala,
B. Patch on the head pure white. [p. 41.
a. Bill smaller, under 33 mm U. m. occipitalis, p. 41.
b. Bill larger, over 83 mm U. m. magnirostris, p. 4 2