316 Capt. Beavan on various Indian Birds. 



one of the birds that prey upon the winged Termites when the 

 latter issue forth from the ground. 



281. DiCRURUs CjErulescens. White-belUed Drongo. 



I shot a specimen near the village of Maknoo in Maunbhoom, 

 January Srd, 1865 ; and I have since observed the species at 

 Uniballah, where it is rare. However, I procured an example 

 in Dr. Scott's garden there, October 27th, 1866, of which I 

 subjoin the dimensions: — Length 10'375 ; wing 4875; tail 

 5*125; tarsus '6875; spread foot 1"5; bill from front '75, from 

 gape 1-0625; extent 15 inches, — measurements which exceed 

 those given by Dr. Jerdon. The irides were reddish-brown. 



282. Chaptia ^nea. Bronzed Drongo. 



At Tongwine, near Moulmein, September 23rd, 1865, I ob- 

 served four or five of this species, near the kyounys, or priests' 

 residences, on the bare boughs of the highest trees, and found 

 them rather wary. I, however, secured one, which was moulting 

 and measured as follows : — Length 8"75 ; wing 4*5; tail 4*625 ; 

 tarsus '5625 ; bill from front -75, breadth at base "375 in. 



284. Edolius paradiseus. Large Racket-tailed Drongo. 



Tiiis bird occurs frequently in Burmah ; and I observed several 

 examples hawking about, apparently after insects, of an evening 

 at Thatone, north-west of Moulmein, in October 1865. The 

 Burmese name for this species is " Gknet-dau ;" and they consi- 

 der that it is very unlucky to keep it in captivity, because what- 

 ever evil it speaks of a person, is supposed of a certainty to come 

 true ; and with regard to its peculiar tail they have an absurd 

 but curious legend to the effect that once upon a time the 

 Gknet-dau had learnt the notes of every bird that inhabits the 

 jungles, excepting the coo of the Dove {Turtur suratensis), and, 

 while on the ground one day, got so engrossed on hearing one 

 in the tree above it, that in listening attentively to catch the 

 note it inadvertently stood on the pointed top of the nest of a 

 colony of Termites, which, of course alive to their own interests, 

 ate off the whole of the long feathers of the tail, excepting their 

 tips, which escaped by overhanging the nest, and tlius the bird 

 to this day has a great portion of its loug rcctrices without webs. 



