316 DICKUKIDJE. 



330. Dicrurus caerulescens. The White-bellied Drongo. 



Lanius caerulescens, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 134 (1766). 



Lanius caeruleus, Mutt. Syst. Nat. Suppl. p. 72 (1776). 



Dicrurus cserulescens (Linn.}, Blyth, Cat. p. 203; Horsf. fy M. Cat. 



i, p. 154 ; Jerd, B. I. i, p. 432 ; Butter, 8. F. iii, p. 465; Oates in 



Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. i, p. 209. 

 Dicrurus cseruleus (Mull.}, Hume, N. fy JE. p. 191. 

 Buchanga cserulescens (Linn.}, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. iii, p. 252 ; Ball, 



8. F. vii, p. 211 ; Hume, Cat. no. 281 ; Scully, 8. F. viii, p. 271 ; 



Reid, 8. F. x, p. 33 ; Davidson, 8. F. x, p. 303 ; Davison, t. c. p. 366 ; 



Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 155. 



Phari buchanga, Dhapri, Hind. ; D'houli, Beng. ; Nella (or Konda} 

 passala poligadu, Tel. 



Coloration. Upper plumage deep indigo ; throat and breast grey ; 

 abdomen, flanks, vent, and under tail-coverts white; the axillaries 

 frequently tipped white. 



Iris red ; bill, legs, and feet blackish (Hume Coll.}. 



Length about 9'5 ; tail 4'5 to 5-5 ; wing 4-5 to 5'5 ; tarsus '75 ; 

 bill from gape 1-05 ; depth of fork of tail about 1/5 inches. 



Distribution. Almost the whole of India proper, extending into 

 Ceylon and ascending the Himalayas up to about 6000 feet. The 

 north-western limits of this species appear to be a line drawn 

 roughly from Cutch to Garhvval, and its eastern boundary the 

 meridian of longitude traversing the eastern portion of the Raj- 

 mehal hills. 



Habits, fyc. A considerable number of these birds appear to 

 spend the summer in the Himalayas and the winter in the plains ; 

 but many are no doubt resident in the latter, for they have been 

 known to breed there, and their nests have been found in July. 

 This Drongo frequents open jungle. The nest is described by 

 Thompson as resembling that of D. ater, and it is built in the 

 Himalayas near the top of moderate-sized trees in May and June. 

 In Khandesh this species appears to breed in June and July. The 

 eggs have not been described. 



The White-bellied Drongo is said by Butler to have a rich Oriole- 

 like note. 



331. Dicrurus leucopygialis. The White-vented Drongo. 



Dicrurus leucopygialis, j%^, /. A. 8.B. xv, p. 298 (1846); id. Cat. 



p. 203 ; Oates in Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. i, p. 209. 

 Buchanga leucopygialis (Blyth}, Holdsw. P.Z,. 8. 1872, p. 439; Sharpe, 



Cat. B. M. iii, p. 253 ; Hume, 8. F. vii, p. 374 j id. Cat. no. 281 bis ; 



Legge, Birds Ceyl. p. 392, pi. 16. 

 uchanga insularis, Sharpe, C 



Buchanga insularis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. tii, p. 253 ; Hume, 8. F. vii, 

 p. 374 ; id. Cat. no. 281 ter. 



Koivda or Kaivuda Panika, Ceyl. 



Coloration. Upper plumage deep indigo ; throat, breast, and 



