best. Typically, Drongos are of slender form and_ build, clothed 
with black glossy plumage and adorned with long forked tails. Their 
flight is graceful, rapid and strong. Bill is largish, wide at the base, 
thick, curved and notched at the tip; rictal bristles strong and 
numerous; legs short; feet small. 
(278) DicRURUS MACROCERCUS, Common Drongo, or Dyrongo- 
Shrike as it used to be called; or king-crow by residents in India ; 
and “kotwal” by Indians. These names aptly certify to certain 
useful qualifications, this species possess. For the Common Drongo 
is on a fairly secure footing, with rascals in the shape of crows and 
other mischievous birds, even that hardened sinner J/ilvus Govinda, 
the common kite, holds this species of Drongo in respectful estima- 
tion and prefers to solicit its services, no doubt acting on the prin- 
cipal which governs not a few rules of bird life, such as, “a good 
friend, but a bad enemy,” or the law which no amount of bird legis- 
lation can upset “let him hold who has the power, and let him keep 
who can,” which rules of the game in foraging, both common kite 
and the crow scientifically known as Corvus Splendens, tenaciously 
adhere to. This Drongo is well-known so requires no special intro- 
duction. It feeds chiefly on insects. usually caught in the air. 
At times should a dainty morsel present itself, it will follow 
hard after it, and secure it on the ground in a, somewhat, charac- 
teristic manner. This bird is social and seems to prefer the haunts 
of man, principally, the homely Indian cultivator. It is often seen 
perched on backs of cattle, relieving them of flies which torment 
their peaceful grazing, or may be, at times, merely enjoying the 
novelty of a free ride. The king-crow is 12 inches in length; bill 
longish, stout, depressed at the base. 
(280) DicruRUs LONGICAUDATUS, Long-tailed Drongo, is fairly 
common in Darjeeling, where it arrives generally amongst the first 
of our spring birds. When this Drongo makes its appearance you 
may be certain that wintry weather has ceased, for a certainty, and 
no more surprises are to be experienced in the shape of “Cold 
waves.” This bird though very like the “king-crow” in appear- 
ance, is generally made out by its longer tail. Longicawdatus is not 
quite 12 inches in length. Its plumage is glossy bluish black; bill 
is depressed at the base; tarsus very short; tail long, consequently 
it would experience some difficulty to rising off the ground, were 
it occasionally to land like the “king-crow” when in persuit of an 
injured winged termite or other insect. This Drongo’s song is 
musical at the same time, having the metallic Drongo like sound. 
White-bellied species has a prettier note than Longicaudatus. It is 
partial to warmer elevations also Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, both 
these species are uncommon and keep much to certain localities. 
