THE BLACK DRONGO. 
219 
The young have the wings and the lower plumage brownish^ and all the 
feathers of the lower plumage and under wing-coverts are tipped with 
white. 
It is only when very old that this species is entirely black. Few birds 
are without white tips to the under tail-coverts. 
Bill black ; iris red ; feet and claws black. 
Length 11 inches^ tail 6_, wing 5*6^ tarsus '82^ bill from gape I'l. The 
female is of much the same size. 
The above are measurements of specimens shot in Pegu. These birds 
vary much in size in different countries^ and it appears impossible to main- 
tain the various species which have been characterized by different authors. 
I follow Mr. Sharpe in uniting them all. 
The Black Drongo or King-Crow^ as it is often called by residents in 
India and Burmah_, appears to be spread over the whole country^ either as 
a resident or a migrant. In Pegu it is a common bird from October to 
January, and in the other months of the year it is either absent or very 
rare. About October vast quantities of this bird flood Lower Pegu^ and 
the cessation of the rains is the signal for its arrival. Dr. Armstrong 
found it common in the Irrawaddy Delta, but I do not know at what time 
of the year he observed them ; it was probably in the dry weather. Mr. 
Davison states that it was common in Tenasserim from Moulmein down 
to Malewoon, and Capt. Wardlaw Bamsay observed it at Tonghoo and in 
Karennee. Capt. Bingham states that he found it in the Thoungyeen 
valley at different times of the year. Thus it is probable that this Drongo 
is migratory, or partially so, only in the Pegu Division. 
This bird does not appear to be found in the Malay peninsula, but it 
occurs in Java. Dr. Tiraud gives it from Cochin China, and it is spread 
over China. It ranges through the Indo-Burmese countries, and is 
diffused over the whole of India and Ceylon. 
The King-Crow is chiefly found in open jungle near houses, and does 
not shun observation. Its habits and its cheerful notes must be well 
known to all. In India it breeds chiefly during May, June and July ; 
and probably if this Drongo is found nesting in Burmah, it will be in one 
of these months. It places its nest pretty high up in a rather tall tree. 
The structure is cup-shaped, made of fine twigs and grass, and bound 
together with cobwebs. The eggs are usually four in number. 
This species, which bears a very close resemblance to the Crow-billed 
Drongo, may be recognized by the tail, the extent to which it is forked 
being about one inch and a half, whereas in the other it is very much less. 
