INSESSORES. 235 



Genus CHIBIA, Hodgson. 



The following is the only species of this form that has yet 

 been found in Australia. 



Sp. 132. CHIBIA BRACTEATA, Gould. 



Spangled Drongo-Shrike. 



Dicrurus balicassius, Yig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 211. 

 bradeatus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part x. p. 132. 



Dicmrus bracteatus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii. pi. 82. 



Having carefully compared the bird here represented with 

 the other species of the genus inhabiting the Indian islands 

 and the continent of India, I find it to be quite distinct 

 from the whole of them; I have therefore assigned to it a 

 separate specific title, and selected that of bracteatus as ex- 

 pressive of its beautifully spangled appearance. Its range is 

 very extensive, the bird being equally abundant in all parts 

 of the northern and eastern portions of Australia ; it was 

 found by Sir George Grey on the north-west coast, by Gilbert 

 at Port Essington, and it has also been observed in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Moreton Bay. I did not encounter it myself 

 during my rambles in Australia ; we are therefore indebted 

 to Gilbert's notes for all that is known of its history. " This 

 species is one of the commonest birds of the Cobourg Penin- 

 sula, where it is generally seen in pairs and may be met with 

 in every variety of situation, but more frequently among the 

 thickets and mangroves than elsewhere. It is at all times 

 exceedingly active, and its food consists entirely of insects of 

 various kinds, particularly those belonging to the orders Coleo- 

 jptera and Neuroptera. Its usual note is a loud, disagreeably 

 harsh, cackling or creaking whistle, so totally different from 

 that of any other bird, that having been once heard it is 

 readily recognized. 



"■ I found five nests on the 16th of November, all of which 



