128 JUNGLE FOLK 



guide in identification. The parts in question are grey 

 in the white-belHed species and dark brown in the 

 white- vented form. It seems to me that a sHght differ- 

 ence in the colouring of the feathers of the throat is not 

 a very safe foundation on which to estabhsh a new 

 species. However, this piece of species-sphtting need 

 not worry the Anglo-Indian, for the white-vented form 

 is found only in Ceylon. All drongos with white under- 

 parts that occur in India are Dicrurus ccsrulescens. 

 This bird is not common in Madras ; I observed it but 

 twice during eighteen months' residence in that city. 

 It is in shape exactly like the common king crow, and 

 possesses the characteristic forked tail, but it is a 

 smaller bird, being nine and a half inches in length, 

 and therefore shorter by fully three inches than the 

 black drongo. Its upper plumage is deep indigo ; the 

 throat and breast are grey ; all the remainder of the 

 lower plumage is white. Its habits are very much hke 

 those of the king crow, but it is less addicted to the 

 open country, seeming to prefer well-wooded localities. 

 I have never seen the Dhouli, or white-belhed drongo, 

 perched on anything but a branch of a tree. It almost 

 always catches its insect prey upon the wing, after 

 the manner of a fly-catcher. Jerdon, however, states 

 that he once saw it descend to the ground for an insect. 

 As a singer it is far superior to the king crow. In 

 addition to the harsh notes of that species it produces 

 many melodious sounds. Tickell describes its song as 

 " a wild, mellow whistle pleasingly modulated." It 

 was the voice of the bird that first attracted my notice. 

 Some eight years ago, when camping in the Fyzabad 



