62 NESTS AXD EGGS Of AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



the big S. aryuta of Tasmania to be the typical species of this group of 

 Streptra, we find three very closely allied species, whose exact relation, 

 time, and a laiger series of specimens are necessary to determine. I have 

 separated the smaller fonn from Port Lincoln as S. intermedia, as well 

 as the South Australian S. melanoptera; but whether these both grade 

 into one another or into S. argiifa, must be proved by the comparison of 

 a larger series. 



Writing from Yorkc Peninsula, S. Australia, Mr. James G. McDougall 

 states: — "The Black Magpie (S. nii //nvqjter/i ) builds a nest hardly dis- 

 tinguishable from that of the Magpie, but somewhat larger. Eggs, two ; 

 breeds October. A rather scarce bird with us." Mr. W. White says two 

 eggs predominate as a i"u!e for a sitting, but he has not vmfrequently seen 

 three. The pair of eggs I received from him bore the data, — " Kangaroo 

 Island— August 1885." 



I possess a pair of Strepera's eggs, taken near Port Lincohi in the 

 Crawford Range, iSth September, 1890, but whether they are referable to 

 Dr. Sharpe's doubtful species — intermedin — I know not. The two eggs, 

 although taken from the same nest, vary from each other. One has the 

 ground-colom- vinaceous-buff, blotched and spotted on the larger end with 

 umber and pui'plish-brown ; measurement, 1-68 x r2 inches. The other 

 has a decidedly darker ground-colour, marked with reddish and purplish- 

 brown ; measurement, 1-58 x 1-2 inches. 



Mr. North has also given a description of a reputed single egg of this 

 dubious species, vide Proc. Linn. Soc, New South Wales, vol. ii., 2nd ser., 

 p. 405 (1887). 



51. — Strepera FULiGiNosA, Gould. (89) 



SOOTY OR BLACK CROW SHRIKE. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol ii., pi 43. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iii,, p. 61. 



Previous Descriftions of Eggs. — Gould: Birds of Australia (1848), also 



Handbook, vol. i., p. 170 (1865) ; North: Austn. Mus. Cat. p. 57, 



pi, 7. fig. 2 (1889). 



Geographical Di^trihution. — Victoria and South Australia (?), Tasmania 

 and intermediate islands in Bass Strait. 



Nest. — Open, outwardly composed of sticks or coarse twigs, lined 

 compactly inside with fine tvrigs and rootlets, and usually placed in 

 the forked branches of a tree, high or low. Dimensions over all, 15 or 

 16 inches by 14 inches in depth; inside or egg cavity, 5i inches across 

 by 3 inches deep. 



Er/fjs. — Clutch, two to four; lengthened oval in shape or more pointed 

 at one end ; texture of shell fairly fine ; surface slightly glossy ; colour, 

 rich purphsh or dark vinaceous-buff, blotched all over (bvit chiefly on the 

 upper quarter) with large markings of reddish-brown and purplish-brown 

 of various shades. Dimensions in inches of a proper clutch : (1) r82 x 

 1-22, (2) 1-8 X 1-18, (3) 1-73 x 1-22. (Plate 5.) 



