PNA ODN Cueto ON: XXXV

nidification resembles that of the species belonging to the genera Strepera and Gymnorhina, the nest being a large
round structure placed among the branches of the trees, and the eggs four in number. So great a similarity exists
between the birds inhabiting New South Wales, Van Diemen’s Land, and Swan River, that I have thought it
unnecessary to figure the whole, but the annexed descriptions, with a due attention to the localities, will obviate all

difficulty in determining the species.

 

91. Cracticus nigrogularis, Gould . : : : 5 : ; s . Wolk, Wl Pl, 4).
Lantus robustus, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. i. p. 67 ?

92. Cracticus picatus, Gould . : : : c : : : 2 i ; : f Wolk, Wl, IL WO.

93. Cracticus argenteus, Gould i : . . . . E ' : , : : Vole Rival

94. Cracticus destructor ‘ : : : : : ; : : : Voly Ts Pi 52,

Lanws curvirostris, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. 11. p. 52.
Lanius torquatus, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. ii. p. 70.

No)
Or

 

. Cracticus cinereus, Gould.

Vanga cinerea, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part IV. p. 143.
Inhabits Van Diemen’s Land, and may be distinguished from C. destructor by its much longer bill, and, when

fully adult, by its grey back.

96. Cracticus leucopterus, Gould.

Inhabits Western Australia ; is of the same size as C. destructor, but has the white mark on the wings much

larger and more clearly defined.

97. Cracticus Quoyii : : : 4 : : é : ‘ : : : : ; Wool, II, IPL, 833,

Genus Grauuina, eill.

Only one species of this genus is at present known. It is peculiar to Australia, over every portion of which
country it is dispersed; and it may be considered one of the anomalies of the Australian ornithology, since its

alliance to any group of birds with which we are acquainted is very remote.

98. Grallina Australis . : : : : : ; : ; : : : : : Vol. Wy Rl 54.

Genus GraucaLus, Cur.

The woods of every part of the Old World from India to Australia are tenanted by species of this genus,
which, from their great size, their being strictly insectivorous, and individually very numerous, must tend to keep
insect life in check, and consequently perform a most important part in the economy of nature.

In my description of Graucalus melanops, I have stated that New South Wales, Van Diemen’s Land, Swan
River and Port Essington, are each inhabited by Giraucali so nearly allied to each other that it was questionable
whether they were not one and the same species, and that the slight differences they present were attributable to
some peculiarity in the districts they inhabit ; after much attention to the subject, I have been induced to regard
the Van Diemen’s Land bird as distinct, and I have therefore assigned it a name, parvirostris; those of the other
countries appear to be local varieties or races peculiar to their respective habitats.

All the members of the group build a flat slight nest of fine short dead twigs, curiously jomed together with

cobwebs, on which they lay two eggs.

99. Graucalus melanops : : ‘ ' : : : : : . : : : Wolk, JUL, AL HS,
Graucalus melanotis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 143; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.
Young.
100. Graucalus parvirostris, Gould.
Graucalus parvirostris, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 143; and Syn. Birds of Australia, Part. IV.
Forehead, sides of the face and the throat jet black ; crown of the head, all the upper surface and centre of