THE DRONGOS 



1525 



genus extends from Southeastern Asia to Australia; the Indian glossy starling 

 ( Calornis calybeius] being the only representative in the country from which it takes 

 its name. The whole plumage is black, with a brilliant green gloss on most of it. 



THE DRONGOS 

 Family DlCRURID^E 



The drongos, or king crows, of Southeastern Asia and Africa, form an easily 

 recognized family, which is placed here by Dr. Sharpe, although Mr. Gates 

 considers that its affinites are rather with the creepers, while other writers place it 



THE BLACK INDIAN DRONGO. 



with the shrikes. Their generally black plumage, and deeply-forked tail of ten 

 feathers serve at once to distinguish drongos from all other members of the order. 

 The edges of both madibles are smooth, with a single notch in the upper one; the 

 wing has ten primary quills, and the nostrils are clear of the line of the forehead. 

 Both sexes are alike, and the young differ from their parents only by their plumage 

 being paler. Several of the species have the head crested, and there are always 

 bristles at the base of the beak. Entirely insectivorous, the drongos are habitually 

 upon the wing, darting from a tree to catch an insect, and returning speedily to the 

 same or another perch; and they are likewise fairly endowed with vocal powers. 



