314 



Distribution. The whole of India from Afghanistan to Assam, 

 and from the Himalayas to Ceylon; the whole of the eastern 

 portion of the Empire from Assam to the extreme south of Tenas- 

 serim. On the Himalayas this bird is found up to 5000 feet or 

 even higher. It extends into China, Siam, and Cochin China. It 

 appears to be absent from the Malay peninsula. 



This Drongo is a partial migrant in many parts of the Empire, 

 such as Assam and Pegu, and is more common in these Provinces 

 during the cold weather than at other times. 



Habits, tyc. The King-Crow, as this species is termed by many 

 in India, is a common and familiar bird, being found in the neigh- 

 bourhood of bungalows and throughout the open and cultivated 

 parts of the country. It perches on any exposed and command- 

 ing point it can find, and swoops on passing insects, frequently 

 resting on the ground a second or two to complete its capture, 

 and returning to its original or a similar perch close by. The 

 note of this bird is metallic and very pleasant. The King-Crow 

 breeds chiefly during May, June, and July. The nest is placed in 

 a leafy bough of a tree, and is composed of fine twigs and grass- 

 stems woven together and covered exteriorly with a good deal of 

 cobweb. The eggs, usually four, but occasionally five, in number, 

 are of two types : one is pure spotless white, the other pale 

 salmon-colour with brownish-red spots. They measure 1*01 by 

 75. 



328. Dicrurus longicaudatus. The Indian Ashy Drongo. 



Dicrurus longicaudatus, A. Hay, Jerdon, Madr. Journ, L. S. xiii, 

 pt. ii, p. 121 (1845) j Blyth, Cat. p. 202 ; Horsf. $ M. Cat. i, 

 p. 152 ; Jerd. B. I. i, p. 430 ; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. ii, 

 p. 27 ; Oatcs in Humis N. 8f E. 2nd ed. i, p. 203. 



Dicrurus pyrrhops, Hodgs. in Gray's Zool. Misc. p. 84 (1844) (no 

 description). 



Dicrurus cinerascens, Gray, Cat. Mamm. fyc. Nepal, p. 98 (1846). 



Dicrurus himalayanus, Tytler, Ibis, 1868, p. 200. 



Buchanga waldeni, Beavan, Ibis, 1868, p. 497. 



Buchanga longicaudata (A. Hay}, Hume, N. fy E. p. 189 ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. B. M. iii, p. 249; Legge, Birds Ceyl p. 380; Hume, Cat. 

 no. 280 ; Scully, S. F. viii, p. 270. 



Buchanga pyrrhops (Hodys.), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. iii, p. 251. 



Buchanga longicauda (Hay), Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 154. 



The Long-tailed Drongo, Jerd. ; Sahim or Sahim-pho, Lepch. ; Che- 

 chum, Bhut. ; Niljinga, Beng. ; Erratoo valan kuruvi, Tarn. 



Coloration. The whole upper plumage metallic indigo ; lower 

 plumage dark grey ; frontal feathers and lores blackish. 



The young are dark brown ; on assuming the plumage of the 

 adult the feathers of the under tail-coverts and under wing-coverts 

 are tipped with white, and these white tips are gradually lost with 

 age. 



Bill, legs, and claws black ; iris red. 



