NliSl'S AXn EGGS OF AUSTKALIAN 7i/KIKS. 6[ 



yest, — Open, soniewl^at large, composed outwardly of lough, dead 

 sticks and twigs, fimily lined inside with grasses, and situated in the forked 

 branches of any suitable tree. Dimensions over all, about 18 inches; 

 inside or egg cavity. 7 inclies across by 3 inclies deep. 



Egyx. — Clutch, three; long oval in shape; texture fairly fine; siu-face 

 slightly glossy ; coloiu', deep redcUsh-buff or brownish-red, indistinctly 

 mottled all over with a darker shade of the same colour. Some examples 

 are much lighter in colotir, more resembling those of .S'. anjuto or 

 S. cuiteirtiiidafa. Dimensions in inches of a pair: (1) r89 x 1'18. 

 (2) 1-78 X M7 ; of an odd and somewhat roundish example : 1-67 x 1'2. 



Observations. — Diuing my excursions in the forests of Western Aus- 

 tralia I enjoyed ample opportunity of observing this bii'd, or the 

 " Squeaker." as the Colonists there commonly call it. I have been able 

 to approach near enough for me to distinguish the yellow of their large 

 eyes when the birds hopped over the ground, crow-like fashion, as Gilbert 

 remarked, in search of food, which is various, from snakes to cultivated 

 friut. I am informed they will devour figs wholesale, and think lightly 

 of flying away with their large bill piercing a juicy pear. 



The nest above described I took near Hainolin Harbour, 17th October. 

 1889. It was situated in the forked branches of a peppennint tree 



(Agon in). Fortimately the two eggs were addled, or else I should not 

 have obtained my specimens. From the third egg a naked squab had 

 just been hatched. 



The illustration is taken from that nest, which was removed and placed 

 at the base of a blackened stump. 



50. — Strepeha mel.\noptera, Gould. 



BLACK-WINGED CROW SHRIKE. 



RefertHce. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol iii , p. Gi. 



Previous Dcscripticiis of Eggs. — North: Proc. Linn Soc, N.S. Wales, 

 vol. ii., 2nd ser., p 406 (1S87). 



Gi'ogrnpliical Dixtrlhiifinii. — Victoria (?) and South Austraha. 



Kest. — Similar to those of the other members of the genus. 



Eggx. — Clutch, two to tlu'ee ; oval in shape ; texture of shell fairly 

 fine ; sui-face glossy ; coloiu", pale pui-plish-buff or pvuplish-flesh, moderately 

 blotched, cliiefly, and spotted with umber, rufous-brown, and dull purplish- 

 brown. Dimensions in inches of a pair: (1) 1'67 x 1'17, (2) 16 x 1-17. 



Observations. — S. melanoptera or the Black-winged Crow Shrike is the 

 mainland or smaller race of iS'. arguta of Tasmania. Gould, upon second 

 consideration, bunched the two (his own) species. Dr. Sharpe has not 



only separated them again but split the mainland species into two. 

 However, his remarks are somewhat cautious. He says ; " If we consider 



