^'^'- ^'^^-"l Banfield, The Spangled Drongo-Shrike. I^Q 



/ 

 spouse, whose long tail sticks over the edge of the nest of 

 coarse grass and, frail twigs in matronly pride and defiance of 

 all conventions. He " cheeps " and she answers, for she is just 

 as fussy over the business as he is vain. Most birds are 

 secretive in respect of the serious occupation of their lives. The 

 Drongo and his consort make as much of it as possible, 

 advertising it far and wide ; and they follow and feed noisily 

 their young long after the desertion of the nest. 



In many ways and attributes the Drongo is a character. 

 Conspicuous, noisy, self-assertive, fussy, and often inconsequent, 

 it might be thought that his duties in the harmony of nature 

 were of little concern to others. But, as a fact, he is so useful 

 and brave that the lives of many others would be attended with 

 greater risks and be less comfortable and happy if his species 

 was exterminated. Many other birds he bullies most 

 impudently, for he has a voice " like Mars, to threaten and 

 command." His office, however, is peaceful, for he is the head 

 of the detective department. He owns no deputy. He glories 

 in his work, and he performs it with the utmost vigilance, 

 alertness, and audacity. 



The chief enemy to other birds — domestic as well as wild — 

 in this locality is the Grey Falcon {Falco hypolcuciis). When- 

 soever the Falcon comes the Drongo makes proclamation, and 

 follows him, using language calculated to make the Falcon 

 confoundedly ashamed of himself, if not to provoke a breach of 

 the peace. Domestic fowls have got to understand enough of 

 the Drongo's dialect to take up the alarm when he sounds it, 

 and my dogs, well acquainted with the language of the fowls, 

 fuss in response, so that, however preoccupied, I am instantly 

 brought to realize the presence of the Falcon. Of the White- 

 headed Sea-Eagle {Haliastur girrenera) and of the Osprey 

 iPandion) neither the Drongo nor the much-petted fowls take 

 the slightest notice ; but a Falcon — though he sneak from tree to 

 tree, sitting at intervals as still as an image, and resembling one 

 cut in grey wood — cannot escape detection. When three or 

 four impetuous Drongos make common cause against him the 

 Falcon flies away with a sulky air, followed by volleys of such 

 wrathful, feather-ruffling language that two or three days may 

 elapse ere the decent black detective has another case on his 

 hands. Shrewd and observant as is the Drongo, he does not 

 devote all his leisure moments to the ofiice he so well fills. 

 When he takes his pleasure he throws his whole soul into it — 

 wise bird that he is. His delight is triumphant, his ecstasy 

 transcendent. Yet one is inclined to the belief that he " shows 

 off," conscious of the admiration that is his due. 



Since few of the antics of wild creatures so vividly express 

 frenzied joy and gladness in life, such utter abandonment to the 

 blissful passion of the moment, an attempt to describe an aerial 



