320 



Jerdon records this bird from the Bastar country in the Central 

 Provinces, where, however, it has not again been observed either by 

 Ball or any other ornithologist. 



Habits, <$fc. This species is found in forest country, from the level 

 of the sea up to 7000 or 8000 feet. It takes its station on the 

 summit of lofty trees, and swoops on insects with a very graceful 

 flight, returning to the same perch. It breeds from April to June, 

 constructing its nest, which is made of grass and vegetable fibres 

 overlaid with cobwebs, in the fork of a branch at a considerable 

 height from the ground. The eggs, three in number, are pinkish 

 marked with red and purplish, and measure about *82 by *61. 



Genus CHIBIA, Hodgs., 1837. 



In Chibia the bill is considerably lengthened, pointed, and curved 

 downwards, in order that it may be inserted into flowers, upon the 

 contents of which, such as nectar and insects, the birds of this 

 genus largely feed. 



The plumage of Chibia is excessively brilliant, and the feathers 

 of the sides of the neck are greatly lengthened and pointed. Some 

 half a dozen hairs, several inches in length, spring in a bunch from 

 the posterior part of the crown, which is otherwise smooth and free 

 from any tuft. The tail is nearly square, and the tips of the outer- 

 most feathers are much curved upwards. 



335. Chibia hottentotta. The Hair-crested Drongo. 



Corvus hottentottus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 155 (1766). 



Chibia hottentotta (Linn), Blyth, Cat. p. 200 ; Jerd. B. I. i, p. 439 ; 

 Hume, N.$E. p. 194 j id. S. F. iii, p. 101 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. iii, 

 p. 235 ; Anders. Yunnan Exped., Aves, p. 651 ; Tweedd. Ibis, 1878, 

 p. 73 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi, p. 222 ; Hume, Cat. no. 286 ; Oates, 

 S. F. yiii, p. 167 ; Scully, 8. F. viii, p. 272 ; Bingham, 8. F. ix, 

 p. 174 ; Davison, S. F. x, p. 367 ; Oates, B. B. i, p. 227 ; Barnes, 

 Birds Bom. p. 157 j Hume, 8. F. xi, p. 102 j Oates in Hume's 

 N. $ E. 2nd ed. i, p. 213. 



Dicrurus (Chibia) hottentota (Linn.}, Horsf. fy M. Cat. \, p. 157. 



Krishna-raj or Kishen-raj or Kesroj, Beng. & Hind. ; Resya, Jobraj, 

 Nep. ; Povong-pho, Lepch. ; Yentika passala poligadu, Tel. 



Coloration. The whole plumage black, with metallic blue reflec- 

 tions on the crown and the hackled feathers of the neck and breast ; 

 wing-coverts and outer webs of the quills and tail-feathers glossed 

 with metallic bronze. 



Iris dark brown ; bill, legs, and claws black. 



Length 12-5 ; tail 6 ; wing up to 7 ; tarsus '9 ; bill from gape 

 1-6. 



Distribution. The western coast of India from the Wynaad to 

 Mahableshvvar ; Kaipur; Sambalpur ; Chutia Nagpur; the Hima- 



