562 



PASSEEINES. 



these are the Euphones (beautiful voices), or Bullfinch Tanagers. 

 Those which are most richly endowed, as regards the splendour of 

 their dress, are the Scarlet Tanager, the Cardinal Tanager, the 

 Bishop Tanager, and the Black-throated Tanager, 



The Grosbeak Tanager {Tanagra magna, Cuvier) is remarkable 

 for the sociability of its nature. It has received this name because, 

 with the help of its companions, it is in the habit of building on 

 the top of a palm tree a vast construction, divided into a certain 

 number of compartments, which are portioned out to so many 

 couples, to hold their nests and young broods. 



The Drongo Shrikes [Dicrurin<E, Sw.) resemble a Crow in their 

 shape and a Blackbird in their size. They have a carinated beak. 



Kg. 264.— The Tufted Drongo {Tephrodomis, Sw.). 



pretty strongly curved, and a forked tail. The ground of their 

 plumage is black, with a green or blue metallic reflection. They 

 live in small flocks in the forests of India, Polynesia, and South 

 Africa. They are great destroyers of bees. The better to accom- 

 plish this, they post themselves, at morning and evening, at the 

 skirts of a wood, on a tree which is dead or bare of leaves, and 

 watch for them as they leave or regain their retreats. When 

 they attack their prey, they fly down from their post of observa- 

 tion, and from their great activity make terrible massacre of the 

 unfortunate insects. 



