430 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



279. Dicrurus balicassius, Lin. 



Corvus apnd LiNN^us — Blyth, Cat. 1218 — D. aflBiiis, Blyth, 

 J. A. S., XL, 174 ; PI. Enl. pi. 603 — Bhuchanga annectans, 

 HoDGS., 1. R., 1837 — Oriolus furcatiis, Gmel. 



The Ckow-billed Dkongo. 



Descr. — Plumage entirely glossy black, as in the last species, 

 but wanting the white spot at the gape ; bill very large, wide at 

 the base ; upper ridge well elevated ; tail less forked than in ma- 

 O'ocerciis, the outer feathers just curling perceptibly outwards. 



Bill and legs black ; irides brown. Length about 10 to 10^ 

 inches ; wing 5^ to 5f ; tail, outer feathers 5 to 5^ ; bill at front l^. 



This species is placed by Bonaparte as the type of Ids sub-genus 

 Balicassius, under the name of B. farcatus ; and the Australian 

 species, D. hracteatus, Gould, and another from the Philippines, are 

 included in the group. A New Guinea species, JS. mezorhjnchus, 

 Q. and G., is given as Dicronostreptns, Reich. 



This remarkable Drongo appears to be very rare in Nepal, in 

 the lower valleys near the plains, and extends thence eastward 

 throusrh Lower Bengal artd Dacca to Assam, Burmah, and Malacca- 

 Nothing peculiar is recorded of its habits, but it is probably a 

 forest species. I did not procure it at Darjeeling nor in the Sikhim 

 Terai. 



280. Dicrurus longicaudatus, A. Hay. 



Madr. Jour. XIII. — Jerd., Cat. 2nd Suppl. — D. pyrrhops, 

 HoDGS. — D. macrocercus apud Jerdon, Cat. 57 — 'Blyth, Cat. 

 1220 — D. intermedius, Blyth — Horsf., Cat. 196. — D. cineraceus 

 apud Gray — IIodG8., Cat. Birds. — Sahi?n, or Sahem pho, Lepch. — 

 Chechum, Bhot. — Nil Finga, Beng. 



The Long-tailed Drongo. 



Descr. — Above glossy bluish-black, beneath dusky blackish, 

 with a tinge of blue ; wings and tails brownish-black, also with 

 a blue gloss. The young bird, iis in others of the genus, has some 

 white mixed with the black of the abdomen and under tail-coverts 



