AMPELID^. 155 



parts and the breast ; tail slightly forked ; bill and legs black. 

 Length, 7" 2'" ; wing, 4" ; tail, 3" 6'". 



Dr. A. Smith first observed tliis species in tlie forests about Natal 

 in 1832. They were very shy, and only one specimen was procured. 

 In habits they seemed to resemble others of the family, perching on 

 dead trees, and performing rapid evolutions in the air in searcJi of food. 



303. DicrurUS MystaceUS, Viell. ; Le Drongo 

 Moustache, Le Vail., PI. 169. 



General colour black, with green reflections ; the wings and, 

 tail are umber-brown ; the latter slightly forked. The most 

 distinguishing feature of this bird consists in tufts of stiff 

 hairs which surmount the nostrils, not lying flat, but sticking 

 up from the head, 



Le Vaillaut says he only once met with this bird in Kaffraria. He 

 fell in with a flock of eight, of which he procured five. Like those of 

 others of their family, their stomachs contained bees and caterpillars. 

 Sundevall says it is a manufactured species. 



304. DicrUrUS ForficatUS, Linn.; Dicrums 

 Longus, PI. Enl, t. 189 ; Dicrurus Cristatus, Vieil. ; 

 Lanius Drongo, Sb. ; Musciccfpa Galeata, Bodd. ; Le 

 Drongo, Le Vail, PI. 166 ; Cuv., Vol. ], p. 371. 



Entirely black, shining, with a bluish lustre ; forehead with 

 a crest, recurved, and pointed forward ; tail deeply forked. 



Le Vaillant says he found this species in the country of the Kafirs, 

 where it was extremely common, frequenting large forests, and living 

 in small docks, feeding on bees, which it seized on the wing in the same 

 manner as fly-catchers. Sundevall says the bird is from Madagascar, 

 not from South Africa. It seems strange that Le Vaillant should have 

 got birds from an island which was more inaccessible in his day than 

 in this ; but there is no doubt that he did do so, as in some instances 

 he has actually adopted the Malagash names as his own. 



Genus MELCENORNIS,* Gray. 

 Bill short, with the culmen elevated, keeled, and curved to 

 the tip, which is emarginated, the base broad, and the sides 

 compressed towards the point; the nostrils basal, lateral, 

 rounded, and partly concealed by a few weak bristles ; wings 

 moderate, with the fourth, fifth, and sixth quills equal and 

 longest ; tail long, and rounded at the end ; tarsi longer than 

 the middle toe ; toes moderate, with the outer as long as the 

 inner toe ; the hind toe strong, shorter than the middle one, 

 and armed with a strong claw. 



* Melasoma, Swainson, 



