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Tas. XLII.
PICA VAGABUNDA.

Tue specific denomination of this bird is bestowed upon it on account of its peculiar habit of life. The Pica
vagabunda, or Wandering Pie, unlike the typical Pies who remain constantly stationary in one neighbourhood,
seeking for their food in its vicinity, wanders from place to place, travelling over a large space of ground, and
not evincing a partiality to any particular situation. The shorter tarsus of this bird, indeed, and its more
elongated tail, are indicative of trees being its most usual resort, where fruits and berries offer a supply of
its natural food; whereas in the more typical Pic@, the longer tarsus and more elongated beak fit them for
digging in the ground, in which they almost solely seek for subsistence. This species is more widely
distributed than any of its congeners, being found in considerable abundance over the whole of India.

The head, neck and crest are of a smoke colour or a blackish grey ; the back light cinnamon; the centre
of the wings grey; the quills black; the tail grey, each feather being tipped largely with black; the
under surface is pale tawny ; the beak and tarsi black.

Length 164 inches ; beak, 11; tarsi, 14; tail, 10.

The figure is of the natural size.