1526 THE PERCHING BIRDS 



Much alike in general characteristics, these birds present considerable difficulty 

 in distinguishing the genera and species. In addition to the typical genus Dicrurus, 

 as represented by the Indian black drongo, or king crow (/?. atef), ranging from 

 Afghanistan to China, and several other species, Mr. Gates recognizes no less than 

 six genera of the family in India. Two species, which may be included in the type 

 genus, are found in South Africa; while Australia has but a single representative 

 (Chibia bracteata) . The black drongo, which has the entire plumage deep black 

 with a steely-blue gloss, but the under tail coverts generally tipped with white, is 

 one of the most familiar of Indian birds, both in the hills and the plains, generally 

 selecting the most exposed and barren tree or post for its perching place. The nest, 

 which is generally placed in a thickly-leafed bough, is composed of fine twigs and 

 grass, covered externally with cobwebs. Usually four, although occasionally five in 

 number, the eggs may be either uniformly pure white, or salmon color, with brown- 

 ish spots. Not unfrequently this bird may be observed perched on the back of cattle 

 searching for insects. 



THE ORIOLES 

 Family 



The orioles comprise a number of b'irds from the temperate and tropical portions 

 of the Old World, in which the bill is as long as the head, and gently curved to the 

 tip, where it is notched; the head is never crested; the wings are long, with the first 

 three quills equally graduated, and the third and fourth longest; while the tail is 

 moderate and rounded; and the toes are free at the base, and have long curved 

 claws. The nostrils are bare, and placed well in front of the base of the beak, and 

 this characteristic, together with the presence of twelve tail feathers, at once distin- 

 guishes them from the drongos. Brilliant yellow generally adorns the plumage of 

 the male orioles; in others the lower parts are variegated with rich crimson. They 

 are birds of frugivorous habits, and frequent forest trees in preference to smaller 

 cover. They are divided only into two genera, of which Oriolus has the lores feath- 

 ered, while in Sphecotheres they are naked. Orioles inhabit the temperate parts of 

 Europe, the whole of Africa, India, China, the Malayan provinces* the Indian 

 islands, and Australia. 



Of the numerous birds visiting Northern Europe in the spring no 

 species is better known than the golden oriole (O. galbula], at which 

 time this bird may be observed migrating in small numbers; both sexes journeying 

 in company. At this season the birds are silent, and seem anxious to escape notice, 

 although, as they arrive before the beech trees (which clothe the mountain sides in 

 the north of Spain) have unfolded their leaves, they have some difficulty in conceal- 

 ing their brilliant plumage among the bare twigs. The oriole on the Continent 

 reaches its nesting haunts about the end of April, and at once claims its own peculiar 

 area of forest. Each pair confines itself to a certain portion of a great wood, the in- 

 trusion of a strange male into the haunts of a pair of breeding birds being certain to 

 result in a fight. Although the golden oriole is shy and retiring in Europe, its 



