GVMNORHININ.E. 



Otherwise somewhat monotonous landscape. Frequently the nests of the \ello\v-rumped 

 ThornhiW (Gcobnsilciis c/irj'sorrlioiis J and the Squeaker ( Aphdoaphala laicopsis) are constructed 

 beneath the nests of this species. 



Gymnorhina hyperleuca. 



TASMANIAN MAGPIE. 

 Gymiwrlnna liypoleucus, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 183(3, p. 106. 

 Gymnorhina organicum, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., Vol. 11., pi. 48 (1848); id. Hand-bk. Bds. Austr., 



Vol. I., p. 178 (1865). 

 Gymnorliina hyperleuca, Gadow, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., p. 93(1883); Sharpe, Haiid-1. Bds., Vol. TV., 

 p. 276 (1903). 

 Adult M-\le — Like the adult male of Gymnorfiin.\ LEUroxoT.\, Gould, hut not so large and 

 having a comparatively smaller bill. Total length IJf inches, u-ing 9-5, tail -rtl, hill 1-IJ, tarstts i?. 



Adult female — Differs from the adult female of G. leuconota in a similar manner as does 

 the adult male. 



Distribution — Tasmania. 

 ^~|^HIS is a small form of Gviitiwrhina Icuconota of the .\ustralian continent, and from which 

 J- it is otherwise indistinguishable, except for a comparatively smaller and less robust 

 bill. The above measurements are taken from a fine old adult male obtained by Mr. George 

 Masters, in April 1867, at the Ouse River, Tasmania. Three young birds were received 

 in the flesh from Dr. L. Holden, Bellerive, near Hobart, together with the following note, 

 under date 7th October, 1904. " I picked up the dead Magpies here to day I am forwarding 

 you, they were poisoned I fancy, as one is prohibited from shooting them. The natural habitat 

 of Gymnorhina organicum is the open or lightly timbered districts in the eastern and drier side of 

 Tasmania. I have known of attempts to introduce it into western and more humid localities, 

 but I think, with small success. This species has been protected by law for many years, and is 

 plentiful and familiar everywhere. It is very popular as a pet, and it has a capacity for whistling 

 tunes, nor need space be wasted on its beautiful wild music. It breeds in low trees, often in the 

 close neighbourhood of houses. I saw one of their nests in 1903 built in the same tree in which 

 Myzantha garnda was breeding. The basis of the nes^t is dried sticks. The nest is often placed 

 among terminal branchlets where it can only be reached with difficulty." 



Mr. E. D. Atkinson sends me a note from his brother the I\e\-. H. D. .Vtkinson of Evandale 

 that this species constructs a bowl-shaped nest of sticks, lined inside with wool and hair, and 

 placed in gums, Banksias, and scrub, four and sometimes five eggs being laid for a sitting, and 

 that he has taken nests with eggs from fith September to 6th October. 



A set of three eggs taken by the Rev. H. D. .\tkinson at E\andale. are oval in form and 

 slightly pointed at the smaller end, the shell being close grained, smooth and slightly lustrous. 

 They are of a rich greenish-grey ground colour, over which is distributed, but more abundantly 

 on the thicker end, scratches, streaks and small blotches of light umber; almost obsolete 

 markings of the same colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell ; Length (A) 1-55 x 

 1-03 inches; (B) 1-52 x 1-05 inches; (C) 1-47 x 1-05 inches. 



