228 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



birds dart from a small tree and sweep 

 down at my dog, not actually striking 

 him, but nearly doing so." 



Its predatory nature, however, does 

 not make it an unsociable bird with its 

 own kith and kin. The Drongoes as a 

 class are not over-fond of company. It is 

 otherwise with the Bhimraj. Generally, 

 it goes about in pairs. But it is not 

 unusual to see parties of four or more 

 together. These birds seem to care little 

 about territorial possessions and never 

 restrict their movements to any limited 

 area. Flying from tree to tree in search 

 of food, they cover daily a wide range 

 of ground. Ocassionally, one sweeps down 

 and picks up an insect on the wing 

 swallowing it as it mounts up again. 

 Sometimes the prey is carried to a 

 a branch to be eaten. It seldom alights on 

 the ground for its prey. It is an ex- 

 cellent catch and is very clever at 

 taking flies on the move. Frequently, 

 it feeds like the common king-crows 



