THE KING-CROW 



TURDY independence" sums up the character 

 of the king-crow (Dicrurus ater\ Needless 

 to state, this royal bird has no connexion with 

 the vulgar, plebeian crow. It is difficult to 

 account for the origin of this popular name. It is true 

 that the king-crow is clothed in glossy, shining black 

 plumage from the top of his head to the tip of his long 

 forked tail, but with this, all resemblance to the corvi 

 ceases. The two races have absolutely nothing else in 

 common. They are, moreover, sworn enemies. 



Far more appropriate is one of the native names for 

 the bird, the kotwal ; which, being interpreted, is the 

 head officer of the chief police station. Every one who 

 is acquainted, on the one hand, with the methods of the 

 Indian police, and, on the other, with the habits of the 

 king-crow, will appreciate the title. This bird, who 

 should more properly be called the black drongo, is 

 the chief police officer of the feathered world. He 

 is inspector-general, commissioner, superintendent, in- 

 spector and constable, all rolled into one. He takes 

 upon his shoulders the burden of keeping in order the 

 whole bird population of India. His office is no sine- 

 cure, for although the fowls of the air are in general 



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