33G BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Calcutta, and those that I saw in Upper Burmah, were quite typical, 

 as regards the particular coloration. 



A very closely allied species, P. merulina, still smaller than 

 the Indian bird, is found throughout IMalayana ; and C. cineraceus 

 and C. insperatus of Australia belong to the same division ; the 

 latter wanting the white markings, thus allying it to Clirysococcyx. 



Gen. SuRNiCDLUS, Lesson. 



Syn. Pseudornis, Hodgson. 



Char. — Tail even or forked, with the two outermost feathers 

 short, the penultimate being slightly the longest, and each lateral 

 half of the tail curling outwards towards the tip as in the Drongos ; 

 otherwise as in the last. Plumage black. This genus was constitu- 

 ted for the Malayan C. luguhris of Horsfield. 



210. Surniculus dicruroides, Hodgson. 



Pseudornis, apud HoDGSOX, J, A. S., YIIL, 136, with figure — 

 Blytii, Cat. 350 — Horsf., Cat. 1016— Jerdon, Cat. 225 — Kurrio- 

 vhjxun, Lepch. 



The Drongo or fork-tailed Cuckoo. 



Descr. — Black, with a changeable blue and green gloss, brightest 

 above; the head subcrested, 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. 



Bill black ; palate red ; legs and feet dusky-reddish ; irldes 

 red-brown. 



Length 10 inches; wing 5i ; tail of ; outermost tail-feathers 1;^ 

 inch less than the penultimate, which is the longest ; middle pair 

 ^ inch shorter. 



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

 covertSj and lower surface ; and the tail has also more white spots. 



