d M £j! uj n ; j ri n j-i; i * ^ 
SPANGLED DRONGO. 
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exhibit the gi'een metallic lustre which is described as alternating Avitli the 
black of that species. The bird in the Society’s collection may be a young 
bird or a female, and thus may not show the same splendour in its colours. 
The species is described as very generally diffused over the East, being found 
in the Phihppine Islands and various parts of India.” 
Gould differed, explaining: “ Having carefully compared the bird here 
represeiited with the other species of the genus inhabiting the Indian islands 
and the continent of India, I find it to be quite distinct from the whole of them. 
I have therefore assigned to it a separate specific title, and selected that of 
bracteatus as expressive of its beautifully spangled appearance. Its range 
is very extensive, the bird being equally abundant in aU parts of the northern 
and eastern portions of Austraha ; it was found by Sir George Grey on the 
north-west coast, by Gilbert at Port Essmgton, and it has also been observed 
in the neighborhood of Moreton Bay. I did not encounter it myself dining 
my rambles in Australia; we are therefore indebted to Gilbert’s notes for all 
that is knovii of its history: ‘ This species is one of the commonest birds of 
the Cobourg Peninsula, where it is generally seen in pairs and may be met 
with m every variety of situation, but more frequently among the thickets 
and mangroves than elsewhere. It is at all times exceedingly active and its 
food consists entirely of insects of various kinds, particularly those belonging 
to the orders Coleoptera and Neuroptera. Its usual note is a loud, disagreeably 
harsh, cackling or creaking whistle, so totally different from that of any other 
bird, that having been once heard it is readily recognised.’ ” 
Jlr. J. P. Rogers wrote from Melville Island: “Cooper’s Camp, Nov. 20th, 
1911 : These birds are fairly numerous in all localities, but seem to prefer 
the open forest. Many nests were foxmd, placed in forks of tliin horizontal 
branches tliirty to fifty feet from the ground. Jan 14th, 1912 : Not many 
of these birds on the north side of the island. Cooper’s Camp, later: There 
are now many of these birds in the mangroves here.” 
Cornwall has recorded from the Mackay district, North Queensland: 
“ The Drongo Shrike is a migratory species ivith us, though odd individuals 
may be noted in the district at aU times of the year. They arrive m considerable 
numbers about the middle of October, and my first record of a nest last season 
was on 9th November. The nest was then nearly completed, but it was two 
weeks later before the full complement of four eggs was laid. On the 23rd 
November they were noted nesting freely everywhere; and continued on 
to the middle of January''. Four eggs generally constitute the fuU clutch, 
but I have a set of five taken as late as 6th January. Towards the end of 
January the Drongos appear to be making a move northward once more, 
and by the middle of February very few are to be seen.” 
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