COR VICE. 197 



branclies of the large trees, tlie fruits of whicli 

 form their principal subsistence. One species is 

 said to make the whole forest vibrate with its various 

 musical notes, which are clear, distinct, sonorous, 

 and pass nearly through the whole gamut. Some 

 species are found only in Australia, where they fre- 

 quent cultivated places, and even approach the 

 dwellings and stock-yards of the colonists ; but they 

 prefer cleared lands, and open flats and plains 

 skirted by belts of trees. These feed chiefly on 

 insects, for which they search the ground ; and they 

 devour immense numbers of locusts and grasshop- 

 pers. Their nests are formed outwardly of sticks, 

 leaves, wool, &c., and lined with fine materials. The 

 eggs are usually three or four in number. 



An example of this race of birds is — 



The Piping Crow [Phonegama viridis), common in 

 New South Wales, mliabiting the Blue Mountains in 

 small flocks, and buildmg in trees a nest composed of 

 sticks lined with grass. It is said to make a loud 

 whistling noise while perched on some lofty branch early 

 in the morning, and not to be migratory. In capti^dty 

 it is very amusmg from its powers of mimicry : it imitates 

 the voices of men and animals, and easily learns to 

 whistle tunes ; its notes bemg clear and powerful. 



The tyi^ical form of the sub-family is — 



The White-backed Gymnorhina {Gynmorhina leuco- 

 notits). 



