BHRIXGA. 323 



Dissemuroides edoliiformis (Blytli), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. iii, p. 256 ; 



Tweedd. Ibis, 1878, p. 78. 

 Dissemuroides lophorliinus ( VieilL), Hume, S. F. vii, p. 375 ; tW, 



Cat. no. 283 quat. 



Dissemurus lophorliinus (Viei/l.), Leyye, Sink Ceyl. p. 396, pi. 17. 

 I lissemurulus lophorhinus (F.), Gates in Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. i, 



p. 215. 



Kowda, Kaput a lay a, Ceyl. 



Fig. 97. IJead of D. lophorhinus. 



Coloration. The whole plumage black, highly glossed with blue 

 and green on the tips and margins of the feathers, except on the 

 abdomen and flanks ; under \\ing-coverts and axillaries tipped with 

 white. 



Iris dull brownish red or dark yellowish red ; bill, legs, and feet 

 black (Leyye). 



Length about 14; tail about 8; wing 6; tarsus I'l; bill from 

 gape 1*4 ; depth of fork of tail 2'5. 



Distribution. The damp forests of Ceylon up to 3000 feet. 



Habits, #c. According to Legge this Drongo breeds in the south 

 of Ceylon at the beginning of April, but the nest and eggs are not 

 known. 



Genus BHRINGA, Hodgs., 1837. 



With the genus Bhringa we enter upon those Drongos which 

 have the outer pair of tail-feathers produced to an extravagant 

 length, the middle portion of the shaft being w r ebless. The genus 

 Bhri'tiga differs from Dissemurus, the next genus, and the only one 

 with which it can be confounded, by having the terminal portion 

 of the outer tail-feathers flattened and equally webbed on both 

 sides of the shaft. This terminal portion is about four inches in 

 length, and the preceding bare portion of the shaft is about three 

 times this length. 



Jerdon was in error in stating that the lengthened tail-feathers 

 were present only at the breeding-season. Adults after once 

 acquiring them, never lose them. The young acquire them at the 

 second autumn moult. 



Y2 



