168 DICRURUS FORFICATUS 
The Madagascar Crested Drongo inhabits the islands of 
Madagascar and Johanna. 
Although apparently common throughout Madagascar 
and Johanna Island, it is not known from elsewhere, being 
replaced on the islands of Mayotte by D. waldeni and on 
Great Comoro by D. fuscipennis. 
In Madagascar, according to Grandidier, the Crested 
Drongos live in small bands and are equally common in all 
localities. They specially affect dead boughs to perch on, 
but may also be seen on the roofs of houses and the railing 
which pens in the cattle, rising at intervals in the air to 
seize some passing insect. They are said to have the power 
of imitating the cry of other birds. Their nest is cup- 
shaped, but rather shallow, and is roughly constructed of 
dry twigs. They lay from three to four eggs, which are 
of a rosy white colour, with small rounded spots of brown 
or rufous, and measure 1°0 x 0°75. Those from the west 
of Madagascar appear generally to be whiter and with 
smaller spots than those from more eastern localities. 
He further informs us that this bird is known to the natives 
by different names, as the “ Drongo” by the Betsimsarakas ; 
the “ Railovy”’ by the Sakalavas, Hovas and Antankaranas ; 
the “ Railomba” by the Baras, Antanalas and the Betsileos; 
and “ Raidonga’”’ by the Antaimoronas. 
Dr. §. Roch met with this species from the coast up to 
the Alanamassiota forest, and writes: “I found a nest of 
this bird when passing the forest on October 27; it was 
suspended in the fork of a tall bush, as an Oriole’s would 
be, and was composed of a stiff, hairy kind of grass, neatly 
interwoven, without any softer lining. It contained three 
salmon-coloured eggs, spotted, chiefly at the larger end, with 
dull red and ash-colour, some of the spots having a “ pen- 
umbra” as in the eggs of the Chafltinch, the spots almost 
