234 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



grey; all the upper surface and flanks light brown; wings 

 brown, margined with lighter brown ; tail dark brown ; 

 centre of the abdomen brownish white ; vent and under tail- 

 coverts buff; irides beautiful orange, surrounded by a narrow 

 black lash ; bill black ; legs and feet blackish brown. 



The female resembles the male, but diflPers in having the 

 face and forehead grey, only a line of black down the centre 

 of the crest, the chin dull white, in having a mere indication 

 of the black gorget, the irides hazel, and the feet olive- or 

 dark brown. 



FamUy DICRURID-ffiJ. 



" The family of Drongo-Shrikes," says Mr. Jerdon, " com- 

 prises a small number of birds found in Africa, India, and 

 Malayana, and extending in fewer numbers to Australia and 

 the neighbouring islands. They have almost always black 

 plumage and longish forked tails of only ten feathers, being 

 one of the very few groups in which there are fewer than the 

 normal number of twelve. The bill varies much, being short 

 and depressed in some, lengthened and curved in others. 

 They are capable of strong, rapid, and vigorous, but not of 

 sustained flight ; and they feed almost entirely on insects, 

 which they capture on the wing, or on the ground, or occa- 

 sionally on leaves or flowers ; their legs are short, and their 

 feet are only fitted for grasping. Some live in the open 

 country, in gardens, and fields, others occur only in the 

 forests, and they are found from the level of the sea to an 

 altitude of 8000 feet and upwards. They form a most 

 characteristic feature in Indian ornithology, for, go where you 

 will in India, you are sure to see one or more of the genus. 

 They build rather loosely constructed nests, and lay three or 

 four eggs, which are usually white with a reddish tinge, and 

 marked with spots and blotches of various shades of red or 

 purple." 



