DISSEMUEUS PARADISEITS. 403 



Eagle, and see it make a sudden charge down on some smaller bird, either in sheer mischief, or to secure some 

 insect which the latter has captured. I have also heard one imitate exactly the evening note of the Ground- 

 Thrush (Brachyurus coronata) . During the breeding-season they are very bold, and a pair think nothing of 

 attacking and driving off from the neighbourhood of their nest the Harrier- or Black Kite-Eagle. I once 

 had an adult bird brought to me which had been captured with limed twigs. Within a few hours of capture 

 it would take cockroaches and other insect food from the hand, and soon got very tame." Mr. Davison, who 

 remarks that its powers of imitation are perfectly marvellous, writes, " I have heard it take off Garrulasc 

 bdangeri so that I am sure the birds themselves would not have detected the imposture. These Babbling 

 Thrushes, by the way, always associate with other kindred species in large flocks, and hunt, straight on end, 

 through the forest ; and you will invariably find two or more of the Drongos following or accompanying each 

 such flock." 



It is noteworthy that this bird always sweeps down from its perch at its prey ; I never saw it fly up at 

 it, although it generally mounts again with the impetus imparted by its first onset. 



Concerning the nidification of either the Ceylonese or Indian races of this species, I am, I regret to say, 

 unable to give any information. As I have shot the young in nestling plumage in July, it is patent that the 

 breeding-season is at the commencement of the S.W. monsoon rains. The northern form of this Drongo, 

 D. malabar aides, builds, according to Jerdon, who had the nest brought to him at Darjiling, " a large structure 

 of twigs and roots." Doubtless our bird has a similar habit, and its eggs are very probably three in number. 



The accompanying woodcuts are explanatory of the various points treated of in this article, and are 

 carefully drawn to life-size. 



On the Plate accompanying the preceding article will be found a figure of the abnormal form of this 

 species referred to above. As the subject is in the background, the full development of the crest, as it appears 

 on the opposite page, cannot be shown in the drawing. 



PASSEEES. 



Fam. MUSCICAPID^. 



Bill straight, wide, depressed ; tip decurved and distinctly notched ; gape furnished with 

 bristles directed forwards. Wings more or less pointed, the ]st quill fairly developed. Tail 

 variable. Legs and feet small and feeble. Tarsus shielded with smooth broad scales. 



Genus TERPSIPHONE *. 



Bill large, compressed suddenly near the tip ; culmen well keeled ; rictal bristles very long. 

 Nostrils protected by a few rather long bristles. Wings pointed, the 1st quill about half the 

 length of the 2nd ; the 4th and 5th longest, and the 3rd shorter than the 6th. Tail long, with 

 the two central feathers greatly elongated in the adult males. Tarsus longer than the middle 

 toe, which is nearly equalled by the outer. 



* The generic term Terpsiphone, Gloger, has precedence of Tchitrea. Lesson, by four years. The older term Muscivora 

 is restricted by Mr. Sharpe to New- World Flycatchers — the Crested Tvrants. 



3f2 



