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 in 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. Streperà graculina . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. II. PI. 42.
84. Streperà fuliginosa, Gould. . . . . . . . . . Vol. II. PI. 43.
85. Streperà Arguta, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. II. PI. 44.
86. Streperà Anaphonensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . Voi; IL,PI. 45.
Corms versicolor, Lath. ?
87. Streperà melanoptera, Gould.
Streperà 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, 2£.
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 G y m n o r h in a , G. R . Gray.
Like Streperà 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 Streperà, 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
grasshòppei’s 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 Streperai, 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 Streperà, larger, but not unlike
that of the European Crow.
Specimens of this form from Western Australia exhibit some, trifling differences, but I have not as yet been
able to satisfy myself whether they are or are not distinct.
88. Gymnorhina Tibicen . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. II..PI. 46.
89. Gymnorhina leuconota, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. II. PI. 47.
90. Gymnorhina organicum, Gould .............................................................................Vol. II. PI. 48.
Genus C r a c t ic u s , Vieill.
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
nidification resembles th at of the species belonging, to the genera Strepera and Gymnorhina, the nest being a large
round structure placed among the branches of the trees, aúd 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, G o u ld ...........................................................................................................Vol. II. PI. 49.
Lanius robustus, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. ii. p. 67 ?
92. Cracticus picatus, Gould . Vol. II. PI. 50.
93. Cracticus argenteus, Gould .................................................................... Vol. II. PI. 51.
94. Cracticus' destructor . . . . . • • • • ■ ■ • • Vol. II. PI. 52.
Lanius curvirostris, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. ii. p. 52.
Lanius torquatus, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. ii. p. 70.
95. 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 m ark on the wings much
larger and more clearly defined.
97. Cracticus Q u o y i i .......................................................................................................................Vol. II. PI. 53.
Genus Grallina, Vieill.
Only one species of this genus is at present known. I t 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. II. PI. 54.
Genus Graucalus, Cm.
The woods of every p art 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 p art 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 Graucali 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.
A t the members of the group build a flat slight nest of fine short dead twigs, curiously joined together with
cobwebs, on which they lay two eggs.
99. Graucalus melanops ...................................................................................................................Vol. II. PI. 55.
Graucalus melanotic, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. pi 143 ; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.
Young.
100. Graucalus parvirostris, Gould.
Graucalus panirostrk, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 143 ; and Syn. Birds of Australia, Part. IV.
Forehead, sides of Vac face and the throat jet black; erdW 'o f trie head, all. the upper siirface and centre of