(” 68) 
(284) Epotius paraApisgus, Large Racket-tailed Drongo, together 
with Bhringa remifer (283) go to form two beautiful and elegant 
species. Their long tail feathers, which droop gracefully down over 
the branch, the birds are perched on, more especially paradiscus, is 
particularly striking. The lengthened outer tail feathers are nearly 
20 inches, comprise, chiefly a long black barb, with a black feathery 
web at its tip, the inner web only, with a twist down side up. It 
is a pleasure to watch these beautiful Drongos in the warm valleys 
on tall trees, beside the Runjeet or one of the big rivers. Flight 
of these birds is usually undulating, when proceeding any distance, 
but when making short sallies, their movements are graceful, more 
particularly when observed on the hunt for insects on the wing. 
They shoot up, rocket like, deftly secure the prey, then return to 
their perch. Then again, one can’t help admiring, the ease with 
which these birds protect and handle, without any apparent obstruc- 
tion, their long posterior appendages. No high born dame: ever 
carried her court-train with greater grace. In shape and colour, 
Dicrurine are very similar to each other: a predominating uniform 
black with glossy steel blue. 
Sup-Famity ARTAMIN AS (Swallow-Shrikes) 
This is last of the groups Shrikes are.composed of. These birds 
are Swallow-like in flight; in appearance not unlike them ; in habits 
similar. At the same time Swallow-shrikes remind us not a little 
of Drongos to which they have a close affinity. Bill is thick, short- 
ish, wide at the base, deep, and culmen rounded, curved commis- 
sures; rictal bristles undeveloped ; tarsus and toes short and strong ; 
claws acute and curved; wings long, 2nd quill the longest; tail 
short; birds of grey plumage, feed on insects on the wing, much 
like Swallows ; but their flight is not long sustained. 
(287) Arramus Fuscus, Ashy Swallow-shrike, is found in most 
places in the plains. Not infrequently they may be seen mixing 
freely with Swallows in Darjeeling in their aérial pursuits; but 
they are seen to greater advantage at a lower elevation below 5,000 
feet where I saw them fairly plentiful, skimming over tea bushes, 
in their hunt for insects, also near hollows ,and jhoras, which re- 
quired much closer attention than this aérial feeder could afford to 
give; as Flycatchers and Flowerpeckers scarcely missed a chance 
of securing a passing gnat or mosquito. Swallow-shrikes like their 
second-cousins the swallows prefer clear open country, village clear- 
ings in the jungle and unprotected, bare hill sides. They feed 
