NESTS AXD EGGS OV AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 2(jl 



Observations.— 1 think we shall find this species ranges from the GuK 

 of Caqjontaria district down through tiio interior paits of Queensland, 

 Now South Wales and VicUiria to South Australia — the focus of numbers 

 being probably in South Queensland, New South Wales, and the Lower 

 Miu-ray district. At eariy dawn the beautiful piping notes of this 

 Magjiie may be heard arising from various lx>lt« of timber, but the 

 majority of the birds seldom leave their roost till about sunrise, when they 

 depart singly, in pairs or small companies, to fee<l upon the plains or 

 other open gi'ound. They revisit the timber during the day, but towards 

 evening may again be seen on the gi-ound before the various lots hurry 

 in to retirc for the night at sundown. At such a time their evensong 

 seems if possible more cheerful. Perhaps five or seven birds will fonn 

 themselves into the approved art pyramid upon the dead top branches 

 of a gum tree — one bird starts to carol, others chime in, ami all conclude 

 in a most joyful chorus as of thankfulness to the departing day. 



After the breeding season, and dvunng the winter months, the Magpies 

 congregate in some localities in considerable numbers. This I have 

 more particulai-ly obser\'ed in connection with the next species, the White- 

 backed Magiiie. Gould says it would appear that the young keep in 

 the company of their parents for the first ten months — that would be 

 till the following pairing season. The pairing season will be found to 

 commence in July, some of the earlier birds laying in August, but the 

 majority lay in September, and the breeding season generally may be said 

 to extend to the end of the year. 



As giving an insight into the habits of the Black-backed Magpie, I 

 may relate the histoiy of a pair I saw in Riverina. lately, breeding close 

 to the homestead at Dunvegan, near Deniliquin. An exceedingly 

 handsome male bird was taken when young from the bush, reared, and 

 allowed his freedom about the place. When he was about two years 

 old, hen-birds from the bush came and coquetted with " Charlie," as he 

 is called, who appeared to pay little heed to his admirers. At last the 

 seductions of one of the hen-birds proved too gi-eat, and the pair com- 

 menced to build a nest in the nearest tree, not one hundi-ed yards from 

 the house. Charlie proved an exceedingly devoted husband, feeding his 

 mate upon the nest regularly by conveying food from the kitchen table, 

 the meat block, and in fact from anywhere he could steal it. Tliis 



recurred for seven seasons ; the seventh season's brood I w'as a witness to, 

 and saw Charlie procuring meat in the kitchen to feed the yoimg. Once 

 Charlie's wing was clipped, when he was forced to climb the tree instead 

 of using flight. On another occasion he unfortunately lost a leg in a 

 trap. It was almost ludicrous to watch how the poor bird used the 

 stump in climbing to assist to feed his offspring. \Vlien a brood (usually 

 four in numl>er) was reared, honours seemed to be divided — he brought 

 two about the house, while the wild bird enticed her pair into the bush. 



Magpies in their natui-al state mostly prociu'c their food upon the 

 ground, devouring almost anything that creeps or crawls, including lizards 

 and possibly small snakes. Occasionally they eat gi'ain, hemes, and 

 other fniit, but those persons who contend that Magpies are granivorous 

 need only place a bird in a cage, feed it upon gi-ain diet, and note how 

 soon it will die. Especially in dry or cold seasons, when the bu-ds are 



