55 GYMNORIIIMIN.?:. 



Insects and their larvie form the chief portion of its food, varied with worms and occasionally 

 small reptiles, birds and field mice. As it will also eat raw meat, either in a wild state or in 

 captivity many of the present and following species are victims of the poisoned baits laid 

 for Crows, and Ravens. To the pastoralist this bird is of inestimable value in ridding the 

 plains of countless myriads of locusts, grasshoppers, and other insect scourges and their larvae. 

 To the agriculturist and orchardist also it renders great ser\'ice in clearing the ground of many 

 insect pests while ploughing is in progress, or the soil is being turned up around or between 

 the rows of fruit trees. While much may be said in favour of tlie Magpie, there are not a few 

 who complain of its depredations. In many districts it has been proved to have done serious 

 damage where wheat or oats have been sown, eating all the seed not covered with the harrow, 

 and latter on pulling up the seed when it is germinating. Frequently in the latter case it is to 

 obtain the grub attacking the seed at its base. No one can be blamed for protecting their crops 

 either by frightening and driving the birds away, or by more stringent means. It will be found, 

 however, that the harm done, is greatly outweighed by the general beneficial results of these 

 birds provided by Nature to help keep destructive insects and their larvae in check. Although 

 the Black-backed Magpie frequently preys upon small birds, it is remarkable that some of the 

 smaller insectivorous species, and particularly Gfobasikns chvysorrhoiis, often construct their nests 

 under its domicile. 



The notes of the Black-backed Crow Shrike or Magpie are very melodious, and it is pleasant 

 to hear in the early morning the flute-like strains poured forth by a number of birds from the 

 topmost branches of some neighbouring tree. Its warning notes on the approach of an intruder 

 however, which resemble a short high sounding " quark, (juark " are somewhat harsh and 

 discordant. 



Variation exists in the size and plumage of this species. Generally it is in the extent of 

 white on the bastard wing and on the basal portion of the outer web of the outermost tail 

 feather. The latter in some adult specimens is entirely absent, in others it is a short narrow 

 edging on the base of the feather only, while in very old males it may be found to extend 

 obliquely from the shaft right across the basal half of the outer web. The width of the black 

 band too on the back varies considerably in some specimens, which points to their being hybrids 

 between the present and the following species. Of such examples in the collection is a fine old 

 adult male procured on the Blue Mountains, which has the black dorsal band little more than 

 half the usual width. In very old males the basal portion of the bill is whitish-horn colour, 

 pale bluish-horn colour on the centre and blackish at the tips; the iris too is a bright fiery-red. 

 Three adult specimens received from the Western Australian Museum, Perth, are respectively 

 labelled "G. leucoiwfa, Cranbrook, sex ? " "G. kuconota, male, Busselton," and "G. dorsalis, female, 

 S. W. Australia." They may all be distinguished by the larger amount of black on the upper parts 

 extending from the back upwards on to the hind neck, and down as low as the rump ; two of 

 them have the feathers on the lower hind-neck, and the rump margined with white, and small 

 white spots at the tip of the remainder of the feathers on the back ; in the other these white 

 markings on the upper parts are almost entirely absent. Two have the bill longer than in 

 typical eastern examples; in the other it is of the ordinary length. The wing measurement varies 

 from 9'3 to lo-i inches. All belong to a black-backed form of G. tihiccn, not G. kuconota. It is 

 somewhat remarkable that an adult male and female of G. tibiccn obtained by Mr. H. G. Barnard 

 at Bimbi, on the Dawson River, Queensland, in 1905, should have similar long and narrow bills 

 like the western birds, but the extent of black is much narrower than typical examples from even 

 New South Wales and greatly more so of course than in specimens from Western Australia. 

 Wing measurement of the adult male lo-i inches; of the adult female 9-3 inches. Dr. E. Hartert 

 subspecifically distinguishes specimens from Nullagine, North-western Australia on account of 

 their larger size and especially their longer bill under the name of Gymnorhina tihicen longiyostn's.'-' 



* Nov. Zool., Vol. XII., p. 230 (1905). 



