



THE KING-CROW. 85 



the whole tree in which the nest is built. He has the cour- 

 age of his convictions. He spends the greater part of his 

 life in living up to them. He will on no account allow any 

 bad character to enter his domain. Crows, hawks, kites, et 

 hoc genus omne come under the category of " bad charac- 

 ters." Now, crows are as inquisitive as they are mischiev- 

 ous, hence they make it a point of honour to investigate a 

 King-Crow's nest whenever they see one. The investiga- 

 tion is apt to be hurried. While the crow is yet afar off, 

 the brave little drongo sallies forth to meet him. As a rule 

 the flight of the latter is not particularly rapid ; when, how- 

 ever, he is on the track of a crow he flies like greased light- 

 ning. The crow at once decides to discontinue the investi- 

 gation. He turns tail, with the King-Crow and his spouse 

 in hot pursuit. These try to get above the fugitive crow 

 and peck at its back and tail. They do not often get a blow 

 home, although I have seen them do so. Mr, Phillips, 

 who tells some tall stories of King-Crows stories of which 

 any fisherman might be proud states that he has seen the 

 King-Crow fix on the back of a hawk with claws and beak 

 for some seconds. The wonder is that the crow does not 

 turn round and face its adversary and then demolish him. 

 Possibly it is cowardice that prevents the crow from so 

 doing, more probably the crow is aware that the little bird 

 is too fast for him. 



Some rude people have been known to call the King- 

 Crow the Scotch Nightingale, which is unkind to both the 

 hardy Scot and the gallant drongo. The cry of the latter 

 is at least cheerful, and he makes no pretence of being a 

 fine songster. Action, not words, is his motto. The King- 

 Crow despises the enervating influence of a comfortable 

 nest. A rough structure composed of -twigs and roots, 

 usually innocent of any lining, placed in the fork of a branch 

 forms his castle. In this Spartan abode are reared up the 

 young hopefuls, who are destined to pursue many a crow. 

 If we may believe Mr. Phillips, the King-Crow is as crafty 

 as he is brave. On one occasion this bird coveted a certain 



