(116187-95-6.)

AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE OF N. S. WALES. VOL. VII.

Grallina picata, Lath.

"Pied Grallina."

Gymnorhina tibicen, Lath.

Black-backed Crow Shrike."

Plate IV.

Complaints are sometimes made that the Magpie delights in pulling or digging up the freshly-germinating seeds of grain crops, but when an examination has been made it has been proved in nearly every instance that the bird was only in search of the grub that was attacking the seed at its base. When there is a paucity of insect life this bird may be driven to eat grain for a subsistence, but never from choice. Even admitting that a small quantity of grain is consumed or destroyed every year by this species, it fully compensates for this mischief, by ridding the land of countless numbers of injurious insect pests.

26. GYMNORHINA LEUCONOTA, Gould. "White-backed Crow-shrike," "Whitebacked Magpie."

Gymnorhina leuconota, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. II, pl. 47 (1848); North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 59 (1889).

This species replaces G. tibicen in the southern districts of the Colony, and is particularly plentiful in the neighbourhood of Cooma, Tumut, and the Manaro Ranges. Like the preceding species, it constructs a large bowlshaped nest of sticks and twigs, lined with hair, and lays three eggs, which are subject to great variation in their colour and markings.

Magpie-lark," "Mud

27. GRALLINA PICATA, Latham. "Pied Grallina," "Magpie-lark,"

99 66
lark," Peewit."

Grallina australis, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. II, pl. 54 (1848). Grallina picata, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., page 79, pl. VIII, fig. 12 (1889).

A well-known resident species, found all over Australia. Breeds during September and the three following months, building a cup-shaped nest of mud lined with grasses, which is usually placed on the bare horizontal branch of a tree, but not unfrequently selecting one where a few green leafy twigs are growing out of it, and which partially hide the structure. During the autumn months it assembles in large flocks, passing most of its time on the ground in search of insects. Eggs four or five in number for a sitting, white or reddish-white with purplish-red spots and blotches, usually forming a zone on the larger end; length, 1.18 x 0.8 inch. Dr. N. A. Cobb, Pathologist to the Department of Agriculture, has recently discovered that this bird is most useful in destroying large numbers of a species of land mollusc, an intermediate host of fluke. The figure represents a male.

28. PTEROPODOCYS PHASIANELLA, Gould. "Ground Graucalus." Pteropodocys phasianella, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. 1, pl. 59 (1848); North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 76, pl. 1x, fig. 2 (1889). Widely distributed throughout the inland portions of the Colony, but not numerous anywhere.

29. EDOLIISOMA TENUIROSTRE, Jardine. "Jardine's Campephaga." Campephaga jardinii, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., pl. €0 (1848). Edoliisoma tenuirostre, North, Records, Austr. Mus., Vol. 1, p. 13 (1892). Seldom met with in New South Wales, except in the scrubs and brushes of the coast.

66

30. LALAGE LEUCOMELENA, Vig. and Horsf. 'Rufous-vented Lalage." Campephaga leucomela, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. 11, pl. 62 (1818). Lalage leucomelana, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 77 (1889).

A common species in the brushes of the Clarence, Richmond, and Tweed Rivers, its range in the Colony being confined to the northern coastal districts. Nest similar to that of the next species, L. tricolor, its lesser congener, but, strange to say, smaller, and barely sufficient to hold the young bird when hatched. Only one egg is laid for a sitting, of an applegreen ground colour, thickly freckled, dotted and spotted with reddishyellowish-brown, in some specimens forming a zone; length, 1 x 0.72 inch.

31. LALAGE TRICOLOR, Swainson.

"White-shouldered Lalage," "Little

Magpie Lark."

Campephaga humeralis, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol., Vol. I, pl. 63 (1848). Lalage tricolor, North, Nests and Eggs of Austr. Bds., p. 78 (1889).

A migratory species, arriving in New South Wales about the middle of September, and departing again at the end of February. From the conspicuous black and white plumage of the male, it is locally known in some districts as the "Little Magpie Lark." It has a pleasing song, which can be heard some distance away. The nest of this species is a scanty structure formed of grasses loosely interwoven and held together with cobwebs, and is usually placed at the junction of a forked horizontal branch of a Eucalyptus or Syncarpia, the rim and outside of the nest having small pieces of bark attached so as to resemble the branch on which it is placed. The eggs are two or three in number for a sitting, of a light-green ground colour, blotched all over with reddish-brown markings; length, 0·82 x 0.65 inch.

32. PACHYCEPHALA GUTTURALIS, Latham. "Yellow-breasted Thick head." Pachycephala gutturalis, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. 11, pl. 61

(1848); North, Nests and Eggs. of Austr. Bds., p. 64 (1889).

A resident species frequenting the open forest country and lightly. timbered scrubs of eastern New South Wales. The nest is an open cupshaped structure, composed of thin twigs, fibrous roots, or the wiry threadlike leaves of the Casuarina, and is usually placed in the upright fork of a tree, within 6 or 7 feet from the ground. The eggs are two or three in number for a sitting, of a yellowish or brownish buff, thickly marked with freckles of dark amber and blackish-brown, particularly towards the thicker end, where, intermingled with underlying spots of violet-grey, they become confluent and form a zone; length, 0·95 x 0.68 inch. From its habit of starting to sing immediately after a clap of thunder, the report of a gun, or any other loud and sudden noise, it is known to many residents of New South Wales as the "Thunder-bird." The specimen figured is a male.

33. PACHYCEPHALA RUFIVENTRIS, Latham. "Rufous-breasted Thickhead." Pachycephala pectoralis, Gould, Birds of Austr., fol. ed., Vol. 11, pl. 67 (1848). Pachycephala rufiventris, North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 67, pl. XII, fig. 11 (1889).

A resident species, but more frequently met with during the spring and summer months. It builds a scanty nest of rootlets or twigs, and lays three eggs of an olive ground colour, spotted and blotched with dark umber-brown