040 Catalogue of the Birds [Oct. 



song, not to be compared, however, to that of one of the genus hereafter 

 mentioned. Irides blood-red. 



Length 9^; tail nearly 5; wing 4?; tarsus nearly T V> much 

 ■weaker than that of balicassius. 



57. D. Maeroeercus, Vieill. ? 



This is tbe rarest of all the Indian Dicruri. I have hitherto only seen 

 it in the Segour pass, and on the summit of the Neilgherries, in both 

 places on lofty and tolerably dense jungle. I observed it in the former 

 place sallv from its perch near the summit of a lofty tree, and make a 

 considerable circuit, apparently capturing several insects, and then re- 

 seating itself on some other tree. Several bird- were thus engaged 

 together, though at some distance from each other, and returning sepa- 

 rately each to its own perch. In this respect it makes a nearer ap- 

 proach than any other Indian species to the manner of the African 

 Drougo shrikes, as described by Le Vaillant, hunting in flocks like swal- 

 lows," and mentioned by Swainson as being the general habits of the 

 genus. Flight of this species similar to that of balicassius, but more 

 rapid and elegant. 



As I cannot be certain of this being the species indicated by Vieillot, 

 I add a description. Above, glossy bluish black— beneath, dusky, black- 

 ish, with a faint gloss of bluish ; wings and tail brownish black, with a 

 faint gloss of bluish also— under tail coverts (in my specimen) edged 

 with white— bill and feet black— bill more depressed than in balicassius, 

 somewhat similar to that of D. carulescens, but differs also from that. 



Length nearly 11 inches; tail very nearly 5£ ; wing 5; tarsus about 

 half an inch; tail feathers more slender than in either balicassius or 

 ccerulescens. The chief peculiarity of this species is its short and 

 feeble tarsus and foot. . 



58. D. arneus, Vieill.— D. museipetoides, Hodgs.— Bronzed Drougo 

 Shrike. 



This species is always found in the most dense and lofty jungle. I 

 have only seen it in the forests of the Western Coast, and have met it at 

 an elevation of 4000 feet. It is generally found in small parties— sta- 

 tions itself near the top of some lofty tree, whence it makes frequent 

 short sallies after insects, exactly like the flycatchers, and returns gene- 

 rally to the same branch. It sings most charmingly, being perhaps 



