THE SINGING BIRDS. 1 55 



The FLAG-BEARING DRONGOS (Edolius or Dissemurus) constitute a group of still more 

 striking birds, with tails in which the exterior feathers are more than twice the length of those in the 

 centre. The lower half of these outer feathers is entirely without web, while at the tip the web is 

 broad at the outer and very narrow on the inner side, so as somewhat to resemble a flag. The 

 beak is comparatively long and powerful, slightly compressed at its base and much curved at the 

 culmen, hooked at the tip, and furnished with teeth-like appendages ; the base of the beak is 

 surrounded with thick soft bristles. 



THE BEE KING. 



The Bee King of the Indians (Edolius pa?-adiseus) is fourteen inches long; the outer tail-feathers 

 are eighteen or nineteen inches in length, while those in the centre do not exceed six inches and 

 a half; the wing measures six inches and three-quarters. The rich plumage is of an uniform black, 

 with a blue metallic gloss. The feathers upon the fore part of the head are prolonged into a crest, 

 and, like those upon the nape and breast, are slightly incised at their extremities. 



The DRONGO SHRIKES are met with in large numbers throughout the whole of India, even 

 to an altitude of 8,000 feet, and may constantly be seen sitting upon the house-tops or telegraph- 

 posts in the immediate vicinity of man, or perching fearlessly on the backs of the sheep as they 

 wander about the fields and pastures. Some few species seek for food during the night, and carry on 

 the chase in parties, which assemble on a favourite tree shortly after sunset ; others, again, are active 

 throughout the entire day, and though they do not hunt for prey after evening has closed in, may 

 frequently be heard uttering their loud, harsh, monotonous cry should the night be fine and moonlit. 

 During the breeding season each pair lives entirely apart from the rest, and permits no intruder to 

 approach the nest. 



We learn from Le Vaillant, Blyth, and others, that the Drongos are in many respects highly 

 endowed, their instincts acute, their various senses well developed, and their movements through 

 the air distinguished by great lightness and activity. So acute is their vision that, like the Swallow, 

 they dart upon a flying insect from a considerable distance with a rapidity that renders escape almost 

 impossible, and, as we have said, readily destroy their game even in the twilight. Except when 

 engaged in seeking food, they rarely come to the ground ; indeed, they seem to have considerable 

 difficulty in using their delicate feet, even whilst in the trees, merely employing them as [a means 

 of clinging to the branches, and appearing quite incapable of hopping from one twig to another 

 with anything like a sprightly motion. Such acts as bathing or drinking are carried on, as in the 

 case of the Swallow, whilst the birds are upon the wing. All the members of this group are lively, 

 noisy, and active. They exhibit the utmost courage in defending their mates and nestlings from 

 danger, several individuals often combining together to drive away a common foe. They constantly 

 attack Owls with great spirit, and Gurney tells us that they frequently endeavour to battle with 

 the larger birds of prey. So violent are they during the season for choosing a mate, that Jerdon 

 mentions having seen four or five of these desperate rivals rolling together upon the ground, as they 

 fought in a paroxysm of rage and jealousy. All the various tribes of Drongos appear to subsist 

 exclusively upon insects, more particularly upon bees and wasps ; some large species also devour 

 grasshoppers, dragon-flies, and butterflies, but, like their smaller brethren, prefer such insects as 

 are furnished with stings, thus often rendering themselves extremely troublesome to the owners of 

 bees. At the Cape of Good Hope they are know under the name of " Bee-eaters." Le Vaillant tells 

 us that they seem to know exactly at what hour the heavily-laden insects return to their hives, and 

 adroitly relieve them of their burdens, strewing the ground with the wings and bodies of the victims. 

 We learn from Gurney that they are often attracted by the smoke from the conflagrations that 



