DICRURINJi. 433 



ground for one. It has a very sweet song, as well as the usual 

 harsh cry of the birds of this genus. Tickell calls its song a wild 

 mellow whistle, pleasingly modulated. 



Other species of this genus are found in Burmah, Ceylon, and 

 the Malay countries generally. One, D. lencophceiis, from Malacca, 

 is of a light ashy color, and evidently forms the link to the Cam- 

 pephagince. Dicrurus edolifoiinis, Blyth, from Ceylon, is a remarkable 

 species, with the bill and plumage of Edolius, but wanting the 

 lengthened outer tail-feathers, which are a little longer only than 

 the next pair, and have a distinct curve inwards. 



The African species of Drongo are separated under the name 

 of Musicuf!, Reichenbart, Drongo, Bonap. 



Gen. Chaptia, Hodgson. 



Ind. Rev. 1327. 



Cha7\ — Bill much more depressed and feeble, Muscipeta-l\ke, 

 wide ; the culmen very gently arching, and feebly hooked and 

 toothed ; 1st quill very short; 4th longest ; 3rd and 6th equal; tail 

 moderately forked ; legs and feet very feeble. 



This genus differs remarkably from the last in the character and 

 glossy lustre of the feathers, which are scale-like and lanceolate on 

 the head and neck. In this respect it resembles Chibia and Bhringa. 



282. Chaptia senea, Yieillot. 



Levaill, Ois. d' Afrique, pi. 476— Jerdon, Cat. 51 — Blyth, 

 Cat. 1212 — HoRSF., Cat. 206 — Dicr. aeratus, Steph. — Chaptia 

 muscipetoides, HoDGS. — Buchanga, Beng. —Chota kesraj at 

 Gorukpore — Chaptya {i. e. flat-billed), Nepal. 



The Bronzed Drongo. 



Vescr. — Plumage throughout richly glossy bronzed blue-black ; 

 quills and tail black, with a faint gloss ; abdomen, vent, and under 

 tail-coverts, dull grey-black. 



Bill and feet black ; irides deep brown. Length 9 to 9|- inches ; 

 wing 4| ; tail 4| ; tarsus y^jj ; bill at front |. 



The Bronzed Drongo generally is found in dense and lofty forest 

 jungle, from the level of the sea to 4,000 ft. of elevation ; I have 

 seen it on the Malabar coast, the slopes of the Neilgherries in high 



3 I 



