94 OCCURRENCE OF CHIBEA BRACTEATA (gOULD) IN TASMANIA. 



lu Africa tlie family is represented by only five species, 

 three of wliicli belong to the genus Dicunis, the fourth to 

 Buchanga, and universally distributed throughout that 

 continent, and the fifth to the peculiar Madagascar genus 

 Edolms. The genera Dicrurus, Chibia, and BucJutnga, contain 

 the most species, and Chibia is the genus so largely repre- 

 sented in the Austro-Malayan region, our present bird being 

 one of its members ; other species of the genus are found in 

 Lombock, Flores, Batchian, Gilolo, Aru Islands, Ceram, Papua, 

 Sirla Islands, New Britain, Celebes, and Ke Islands. There 

 are likewise the peculiar Papuan genus Choetorhynchus, and a 

 member of the genus CJuzptia (C. Malayensis), from Sumatra 

 and Borneo to swell the list of Drongos from Austro-Malaya. 



In no single country, however, do the Drongos come so 

 prominently forward as in Ceylon, in which there are no fewer 

 than five species, three of which belong to Buchanga, and the 

 other two to DwsewiMrMS and Z)ts5emMroides(the crested Drongos) 

 and the kings of the whole family. The large Eacket-tailed 

 Drongo, D. paradiseiis, which is one of the crested species, is 

 remarkable for the vaiying form of the beautiful outer-tail 

 feathers, from which it derives its name, as well as for its 

 extraordinary power of mockery. It imitates almost every 

 bird in the forest, which has loud notes enough to attract its 

 attention, and is a very tyrant in its habits, selecting the Eed 

 Woodpeckers of the Ceylon forests for its special attacks. 

 I have seen it swoop across open spaces in the jimgle at these 

 bird, seemingly with the sole object of disturbing them while 

 in search of their food ; it would then j>ei'haps dart up to a 

 bush and commence mocking other birds with all its power. 



