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feeble and protracted, and they seldom mount high in the air, except for the purpose of crossing a gully, or for
passing from one part of the forest to another, and then merely over the tops of the trees ; during flight they
usually utter a peculiar shrill cry, which is frequently repeated and answered by other birds of the same troop, for
they mostly flit about im small companies of from four to six in number, apparently the parents and their offspring
of the year. All the species occasionally descend to the cultivated grounds, orchards and gardens of the settlers,
and commit considerable havoc among their fruits and grain; in many parts of Australia, particularly in Van
Diemen’s Land, they form an article of food, and are considered good and even delicate eating. They usually
build open cup-shaped nests as large as that of the Crow, composed of sticks and other coarse materials, lined
with grasses or any other suitable substance that may be at hand; the eggs are generally three, but are sometimes
four, in number. ‘The sexes are similar in plumage, and the young assume the livery of the adult from the time

they leave the nest.

83. Strepera graculina. ; : ; : : : : Vola Piao
84. Strepera fuliginosa, Gould . : ; : : : Volo 1. Pl 43)
85. Strepera Arguta, Gould. . ; ; : ; : : Vol. II. Pl. 44.
86. Strepera Anaphonensis_ . : : . : : : : : : y : . Vol: II. Pl. 45.

Corvus versicolor, Lath. ?
87. Strepera melanoptera, Gould.
Strepera melanoptera, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIV. p. 20.

All the upper surface, wings, and tail black; under surface brownish black, tinged with grey on the
abdomen ; under tail-coverts and tips of all but the two centre tail-feathers white; irides yellow ; bill and feet
black.

Total length, 19 inches ; bill, 2; wings, 11; tail, 9; tarsi, 25.

This species inhabits South Australia, and is distinguished from all its congeners by the total absence of any
white mark on the wings ; in other respects it is so similar to S. Arguta, that I have not considered it necessary to

give a figure of it.
Genus Gymnoruina, G. R. Gray.

Like Strepera this is strictly an Australian form, all the species of which frequent exclusively the southern
parts of the country. Their structure is a mere modification of that of the members of the last genus adapted to a
somewhat different mode of life and habits. They are more pastoral than the Strepere, frequenting as they do the
open plains and grassy downs, over which they run or rather hop with great facility. Their chief food consists of
grasshoppers and other insects, to which berries and fruits are added, when such kinds of food are procurable. If
unmolested in their natural haunts they may be considered a more familiar race than the Strepere, but if
persecuted they become extremely shy and distrustful. Few birds are more ornamental, or give a more animated
appearance to the country than the members of this genus, either when running over the surface of the lawn-like
ground, or when pouring forth their singular choral-like notes while perched together on the bare branches of a
fallen Eucalyptus. The form and situation of the nest is the same as those of the Strepere, larger, but not unlike
that of the European Crow.

Specimens of this form from Western Australia exhibit some triflmg differences, but I have not as yet been

able to satisfy myself whether they are or are not distinct.

88. Gymnorhina Tibicen . : . : . . . : é ; ; Vol WiRieos
89. Gymnorhina leuconota, Gould. : ; : : é ; ; : : Viole a ialecie
90. Gymnorhina organicum, Gould . : : : : 3 : Vole le Bins:

Genus Cracricus, Meill.

The members of this genus, which are universally dispersed over Australia, prey upon small quadrupeds,

birds, lizards and insects,

which they frequently impale after the manner of the ordinary Shrikes. Their