THE BIRDS OF BANGKOK. 8i 
not inappropriate descriptive term. The bird is, however, commonly 
known as Nok parod only. 
Distribution. So far only reported from Northern Siam 
( Gyldenstolpe ), but probably occurs over a large part of the country 
I have met with it as far south as Koh Lak. 
Family DICRURID#—Drongos. 
9 (327). Dicrurus ater. T'he Black Drongo. 
Siamese, wnusteusaunau ( Nok seng seo klebT). 
Description. Length, about 279 mm. (11 in.). In very old 
birds, the whole plumage is black, glossed with steel-blue, younger 
birds having the under tail-coverts tipped with white. In those still 
younger, the colour is brownish black, the feathers of the lower 
plumage having white tips. The tail is forked to a depth of about 
38 mm. (1.5 in.) 
Tris, dark brown to reddish brown and deep lake-red. Bill, 
black. Mouth, blackish. Legs, blackish brown to black. 
Tlabits, etc. This is the common little black bird with the 
forked tail which is seen everywhere in Bangkok from the beginning 
of October to the end of March—a few specimens lingering on almost 
throughout April. 
The Black Drongo (or King-Crow, as it is usually called by 
Europeans in India) feeds entirely on insects, which it usually 
takes on the wing by swooping on them from some exposed point of 
vantage, though it sometimes descends to the ground for the purpose. 
Its notes are cheerful, with a soft, metallic quality, and almost 
approach the beginnings of a song at times. 
In the Siamese name of this bird, the word /leb signifies 
“lesser”, and serves to distinguish it from the Racket-tailed Drongo, 
which is larger. In common parlance, however, this bird is merely the 
Nok sénq seo. 
Distribution. Also recorded from Eastern, Central and Northern 
Siam ( Gyldenstolpe ). 
+ The } of the word &léé is pronounced more like a p. 
