D I S S I M U R U S 
21 . 
LOPHOR MINUS 
(THE CEYLON CRESTED DRONGO) 
ADULT MALE 
Length 13.4 to 14.1 Inches; wing 5.6 to G; tall outer feathers 7.2 to 
7.6, central feathers 2.3 to 2.5; tarsus 1 to 1.1; middle toe .75, Its claw 
(straight) .4; bill to gape 1.35 to 1.4; limit of frontal feathers about .5. 
The female Is somewhat smaller than the male. Length 13.25 Inches; 
wing 5 to 5.6; tall 7. 
DISTRIBUTION 
The stronghold of this fine Drongo consists of the Western Province and 
the South-west corner of the island, including the Southern hill ranges, 
throughout which it is plentifully diffused. Its Northerly limit is the 
Korunegalla district, extending along the base of the Matale hills, and in¬ 
cluding the Southern portion of the seven korales. 
It is found in all the forests and jungles of the Western Province, and 3s 
common in the Ikkade Barawe forest, and in the out lying jungles between 
there and Kotta. From Ambepusse Southwards through Ratnapura to the Pasdun 
and Kukkul Korales it is everywhere found in heavy forest, and ascends the 
Arabegamoa Peak and Maskelia jungles to a considerable altitude. 
It is located in portions of the interior of the Kandyan Province, and 
has been procured in Hewahette at 3000 feet elevation. It does not appear 
to extend Eastward beyond the slope of the Southern ranges, for I did not 
meet with it in the forest tracts at the base of the Haputale hills, in whim 
district the Racket Tailed species is so common. It Is very abundant in 
the forests on the South bank of the Gindurah, appearing to thrive more pros¬ 
perously in these very humid jungles than in those further up the West coast 
HABITS 
Damp forests and their most gloomy recesses are frequented by this fine 
bird. While tramping through the humid glens of the Southern jungles, when 
not a sound is heard but the sighing of the wind in the lofty trees, the nat¬ 
uralist is suddenly startled by the outburst of the lively notes with which 
the Crested Drongo Is wont to indulge on being distarbe,, in its native haunts 
Its vocal powers are remarkable, and are fully brought out in the bree¬ 
ding season, when the males give out a pleasing warble for the edification 
of their consorts; this is varied by a number of loud whistlings and calls, 
the result of the bird’s powers of mimicry, which are quite equal to those. 
