THE KING-CROW 41 



He, however, differs from all other birds in the ferocity 

 of his attack and the eagerness with which he rushes 

 into the fray. 



Like the London street cad, the king-crow thoroughly 

 enjoys a row. He never loses an opportunity of 

 picking a quarrel. If another bird so much as wink 

 its eye at His Royal Highness, that is held to be 

 sufficient provocation. To venture within twenty yards 

 of the tree in which the royal nest is situated is high 

 treason. 



Now, since the drongo's nest is not so large as a lawn- 

 tennis ball, and is usually carefully concealed in a forked 

 branch of a leafy tree, it often happens that a quiet, 

 inoffensive bird, one who has never done anything 

 naughty, innocently settles in the tree only to be roughly 

 handled by the unreasonable owners of the nest It is 

 superfluous to say that the crow never loses a chance 

 of " taking a rise " out of a king-crow. The interest 

 which the larger bird takes in the [nest of the smaller 

 is really quite affecting. 



A crow is pottering about aimlessly, looking out for 

 mischief for idle claws to do, when it observes a couple 

 of drongos busily at work. " A nest, probably young 

 ones ! " says Mr. Corvus Splendens to his noble self. 

 He then proceeds to wend his way towards the king- 

 crows, sailing along with that air of jaunty nonchalance 

 which cats and crows alone can assume. 



" Morning ! How's the nest and the dear little 

 angels ? " caws he. In less time than it takes to relate, 

 the irate drongos have dashed at the crow, and are 

 trying to secure beakfuls of feathers out of his back. 



