40 BOMBAY DUCKS 
law-abiding folk, there are not wanting among them 
vagabonds, egg-stealers, nest-breakers, and other 
criminals. ‘ 
Among birds, as among human beings, the wicked 
flourish like the green bay tree. Crows, kites, and birds 
of prey live lives of iniquity, yet they have possessed 
themselves of the land. They are so numerous that the 
king-crow is flown off his wings in endeavouring to keep 
them in something like order. He receives no fixed 
salary for his police duties. 
But, were you to ask the drongo if philanthropic 
motives prompted him to do this work, he would put 
his tongue in his cheek and split his sides with laugh- 
ing. He is an Eastern. He lives up to all the best 
traditions of the Oriental police by levying black- 
mail at every opportunity. Moreover, he looks with 
lenient eye on offences committed against the person 
or property of others, becoming zealous in his duties 
only when he has to investigate crimes of which he is 
the victim. 
The king-crow is of opinion that charity begins—and 
ends—at home. Hence it comes to pass that the police 
activity of the drongo is greatest during the nesting 
season. At no other time has the bird any property to 
look after. Nests are constructed from April to July, 
and during these months a couple of king-crows chasing 
a crow or a kite is a sight so common as to attract but 
little attention. 
Nearly every bird, no matter how small or weak, will 
attack the animal which threatens its nest ; in this re- 
spect there is nothing remarkable about the king-crow. 
