290 BULLETIN 186, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



DICRURUS ADSIMILIS CATHOECUS Swinhoe 



Chinese Black Drongo 



Dicrurus cathoecus Swinhoe, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1871, p. 377 ("China, 

 Hainan, and Formosa" ; type locality restricted to South China, by Hartert, 

 Vogel der palaarktischen Fauna, vol. 3, 1921, p. 2017). 



Dicrurus ater, Gyldenstolpe, Journ. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam, 1915, p. 167 (listed). 



Buchanga atra longus, Gyldenstolpe, Ibis, 1920, p. 451 ("Throughout the whole 

 country"). 



Buchanga atra cathoeca, Gyldenstolpe, Ibis, 1920, p. 451 (Pang Hua Phong). 



Dicrurus macrocercus thai, de Schatjensee, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 

 1928, p. 556 (Chiang Mai) ; 1934, p. 226 (Chiang Mai).— Deignan, Journ. 

 Siam Soc. Nat. Hist. Suppl., 1936, p. 101 (Chiang Mai). 



Dicrurus macrocercus cathoecus, de Sohauensee, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila- 

 delphia, 1929, p. 552 (Chiang Mai). — Deignan, Journ. Siam Soc. Nat. Hist. 

 Suppl., 1981, p. 147 (Chiang Mai) ; 1936, p. 101 (Chiang Mai). 



The nok saeo hang pla has been taken once in Lampang Province, 

 once in Mae Hong Son, and frequently in Chiang Mai but has not yet 

 been recorded at all from the remaining portions of our area. It is 

 likely to occur, at least as a migrant or winter visitor, in any deforested 

 lowland district. 



On the plain of Chiang Mai this drongo is one of the most conspic- 

 uous birds and can be observed anywhere, perching upon fence posts, 

 on the bunds of the open ricefields, and on the backs of grazing cattle, 

 whence it makes nights after passing insects. Like others of the 

 family, it is a noisy bird, combining harsh shrieks and chattering calls 

 with melodious whistles and flutelike notes. The name "king-crow" 

 is derived from its habit of attacking and driving from the neighbor- 

 hood crows, hawks, dogs, and other potential enemies. 



At Chiang Mai, during the months of October and November, great 

 numbers of immature birds arrive, presumably from farther north, 

 and congregate at ponds and marshes, together with the migratory 

 flocks of bee-eaters. These visitors gradually disappear, and no cor- 

 responding return-movement has been noted in spring, possibly be- 

 cause of the aridity of the countryside at that season. 



An example in postjuvenal molt was taken at Chiang Mai, July 5. 



An adult male had the irides red ; the bill, feet, toes, and claws black. 

 The postjuvenal male had the irides brown; the bill black; the rictus 

 and interior of the mouth fleshy ; the feet, toes, and claws black. 



Adults have the entire plumage black, glossed with steel blue. Im- 

 matures have the upperparts rather less glossy ; the edge of the wing 

 white ; the underparts little glossed and the feathers tipped with gray, 

 especially on the abdomen and under tail coverts. 



My series of this common species is highly inadequate for taxonomic 

 purposes. With the exception of a few specimens mentioned under 

 the following form, my adult examples are inseparable from Chinese 



