534 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



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

 their dress, are the Scarlet Tanagers (Tanagra r ubra, Fig. 243). 



The Grosbeak Tanager (Tanagra magna) is remarkable for the 

 sociability of its nature, for, 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 Dicrurus (Dicrurus macrocercus, Fig. 244) resembles a Crow in 

 shape and a Blackbird in size. They have a carinated beak, pretty 



Fig. 244. The Dicrurus. 



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. They are great destroyers of bees. 

 The better to accomplish 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 these insects as they leave or regain their re- 

 treats. When they attack their prey, they fly down from their post of 

 observation, and from their great activity make terrible massacre of 

 the unfortunates. 



Their turbulent and noisy nature, and their black funereal appear- 

 ance, have been the means of gaining for them the name of Devil 

 Birds. Their flesh is of no value; but some species are said to sing 



