IRENA. 



be found more and more impossible to give specific characters for those differ- 

 entiated under the various titles mentioned." 



The large racket-tailed Drongo affects forests, and well-wooded districts. 

 Like the Drongos in general it selects the extreme end of a bough or branch 

 for its perch, which it now and again leaves for the purpose of capturing a 

 passing insect. It always returns to the same perch. Its song is said to be 

 rich and mellow, especially during the breeding season. The nest is built 

 in a fork on the very tip of a bough on the highest tree in the place, and almost 

 inaccessible. In structure it does not differ from that of its congeners. The 

 eggs, usually three in number, are white or pinkish, marked with reddish 

 brown. 



Gen. Irena- Horsf. 



Bill stout, of moderate length ; culmen rather elevated and slightly arching 

 from the base, tip notched ; nostrils covered with short plumes. Wings with 

 the 4th quill longest ; tarsus short. 



169. Irena puella, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 171 ; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. 

 p. 105; Stol. J. A. S. B. xxxix. p. ii. p. 318; Wald. Ibis, 1871, p. 170; 

 Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 298; Hume, Sir. F. ii. p. 226; iii. p. 130; Bl. 

 and Wald. B. Burnt, p. 138; Armstrong, Str. F. iv. p. 326; Bourdillon, 

 Str. F. iv. p. 400; War dlaw- Ramsay , Ibis, 1877, p. 467 ; Hume and Dav. 

 Sir. F. vi. p. 328 ; Hume Str. F. viii. p. 99 ; Legge, Birds, Ceylon, p. 466 ; 

 Sharpe, Cat Birds, B.Mus. vi. p. 177; Bingham, Str. F. ix. p. 184,- Oa/es, 

 Str. F. x. p. 21 1 ; Oa/es, B. Br. Burm. p. 209. The FAIRY BLUE BIRD. 



Whole upper plumage, including the lesser wing coverts, brilliant glistening 

 cobalt blue. Sides of the head, quills and tail deep black ; the secondaries 

 and central tail feathers with a shade of blue ; lores, feathers over the 

 eye, sides of neck and entire under surface, also the thighs and under wing 

 coverts, black ; under tail coverts purplish black. 



The female has the whole of the upper plumage dull prussian blue, brighter 

 on the rump and upper and under tail coverts ; primaries and secondaries 

 dark brown, also the greater wing coverts, primary coverts and tertiaries, but 

 these with a bluish tinge on their outer webs. 



Bill and legs black ; iris crimson. 



