THE KING-CROW 



*'^^">l TURDY independence" sums up the character 



^^^ of the king-crow {Dicrurus ater). Needless 



^^ to state, this royal bird has no connexion with 



^^ — ^ the vulgar, plebeian crow. It is difficult to 



account for the origin of this popular name. It is true 



that the king-crow is clothed in glossy, shining black 



plumage from the top of his head to the tip of his long 



forked tail, but with this, all resemblance to the corvi 



ceases. The two races have absolutely nothing else in 



common. They are, moreover, sworn enemies. 



Far more appropriate is one of the native names for 

 the bird, the kotwal ; which, being interpreted, is the 

 head officer of the chief police station. Every one who 

 is acquainted, on the one hand, with the methods of the 

 Indian police, and, on the other, with the habits of the 

 king-crow, will appreciate the title. This bird, who 

 should more properly be called the black drongo, is 

 the chief police officer of the feathered world. He 

 is inspector-general, commissioner, superintendent, in- 

 spector and constable, all rolled into one. He takes 

 upon his shoulders the burden of keeping in order the 

 whole bird population of India. His office is no sine- 

 cure, for although the fowls of the air are in general 



39 



