128 CUCULIN.E. 







belly, flanks, and tail-coverts white, also with dusky cross bars 



tibial feathers rufous barred. 



In a more advanced state of the same plumage the bars on 

 the head and rump disappear, and those that remain have a 

 green gloss upon them. 



Not uncommon during the rains in many parts of the Deccan, 

 and at Mount Aboo ; it probably also occurs at and near Mfrbw ; 

 it has never been recorded from Sind, Cutch, Kattiawar, or Jodh- 

 pore. 



GENUS, Surniculus, Lesson. 



Tail even or forked, with the two outermost feathers short, the 

 penultimate being slightly the longest, and each lateral half 

 of the tail curling outward towards the tip as in the -Drongos ; 

 otherwise as in the last ; plumage black. 



Surniculus lugubris, Horsf. 



210. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 336. 



THE DRONGO OR FORK-TAILED CUCKOO. 



Length, 10 ; wing, 5'5 ; tail 375 ; outermost tail feathers, T25 

 inches less than the penultimate, which is the longest ; middle 

 pair 05 inch shorter. 



Bill black ; palate red ; irides red brown ; legs and feet dusky 

 reddish. 



Black, with a changeable blue and green gloss, brightest above ; 

 the head sub-crested, and generally two or three white feathers 

 in the centre of the occiput ; tibial and tarsal feathers partially 

 white ; some white specks on the wing-coverts, and on the upper 

 tail-coverts occasionally ; lower tail-coverts marked with white ; 

 outermost primary with a round white spot, and all the others 

 with an oblique white mark, causing an oblique streak of white 

 on the inner surface of the wings ; outermost tail-feathers 

 obliquely barred or spotted with white. 



The young birds are spotted with white on the head, wing- 

 coverts, and lower surface ; and the tail has also more white 

 spots. 



According to Jerdon, the Drongo or Tork-tailed Cuckoo occurs 

 sparingly in Central India. 



GENUS, Chrysococcyx, Boie. 



Bill as in cuculus, but a little more depressed at the base, 

 and quite entire at tip ; wings pointed ; second quill longer than 

 the fourth; third nearly as long; the feathers of the rump and 

 upper tail-coverts soft ; and tarsi very short and much plumed. 



Chrysococcyx maculatus, Gm. 



211. C. hodgsoni, Moore. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 

 338. 



