THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
A delightful account from the pen of that attractive bird student Dr 
E. J. Banfield, must be read in extenso, but I here quote the opening paragraphs 
to whet the appetite of the reader: “In many parts of the coastal tract of 
North Queensland the Drongo—a singularly important little bird—is fairly 
plentiful. He is black, but not so solemnly black that a shade of purple is 
, absent from his shoulders. He has a decidedly crowish head and bill, brownish- 
red eyes, and a long forked, fish-like tail, which he has the habit of twitching 
or flickuig to emphasize the meek, clinking tones of his staid and sober moments 
Though a bird of the forest, the Drongo choose those resorts which are adjacent 
to the jungle, and in my experience invariably selects the Moreton Bay ash 
for nesting. Among the thin grey-green leaves, far towards the end of a branch 
the nest, though conspicuous, is fairly safe. But if the nest were not easily 
seen, the Drongo is not of the disposition to allow anyone to pass without noticing 
liis demure spouse, whose long tail sticks over the edge of the nest of coarse 
grass and frail twigs in matronly pride and defiance of all conventions. He 
‘ cheeps ’ and she ans^vers, for she is just as fussy over the business as he is 
vain. Most birds are secretive in respect of the serious occupation of their 
fives. The Drongo and liis consort make as much of it as possible, advertising 
if far and wide, and they follow and feed noisily their young long after the 
desertion of the nest. Li many ways and attributes the Drongo is a character. 
Conspicuous, noisy, self-assertive, fussy and often inconsequent, it might be 
thought that Ms duties in the harmony of natme were of little concern to 
others. But, as a fact, he is so useful and brave that the fives of many others 
w'ould be attended with greater risks and be less comfortable and happy if his 
species w^ere exterminated. Many other birds he bullies most impudently, 
for he has a voice ‘ like Mars, to threaten and command.’ His ofiice, however, 
is peaceful, for he is the head of the detective department. He owns no deputy. 
He glories in Ms work, and he performs it with the utmost vigilance, alertness, 
and audacity. The cMef enemy to other birds—domestic as well as bird- 
in this locality is the Grey Falcon. 'Whensoever the Falcon comes the Drongo 
makes proclamation, and follows Mm, using language calculated to make the 
Falcon confoundedly ashamed of himself, if not to provoke a breach of the 
peace. . . . When three or four impetuous Drongos make common cause 
agamst Mm the Falcon flies aw'ay with a sulky air, followed by volleys of 
WTathful feather-rufflmg language.” 
Barnard has recorded: “Very common at Cape York. These birds 
are migratory, coming from New Guinea in large numbers during October.” 
Macgilfivray states: “ Foimd all the year round at Cape York, but not 
so numerous in the ^vinter. They nest m company with other birds in 
the open forest usually, but sometimes in the scrub.” Later, he noted: 
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