THE BIRDS OF COOLABAH AND BRKWARRIXA— NORTH. 183 



the 23rd November — forwarded a fine old adult bird to the 

 Trustees, but, unfortunately, through the hot weather, when 

 it was received, it was too far gone for preser-vation. Both at 

 Coolabah and Brewarrina, 1 met with many persons who knew 

 the Spotted Bower-bird, and were acquainted with its habits 

 and bower building propensities, but with few who had seen 

 its nest and eggs, although I have known of them being found 

 in many parts of Western New South Wales. 



Grallina picata. 



Magpie- Lark. 



Gracula picata^ Lath., Ind. Orn., Suppl., p. xxix. (1801). 



Grallina australis, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., ii., pi. 54< (1848). 



Grallina picata, Gould, Handbk. Bds. Austr., i., p. 186 (1865) ; 

 Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., iii., p. 272 (1877) ; North, 

 Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., 2nd. ed., i., ))t. ii., p. 88 

 (1902). 



This familiar and useful species was noted everywhere, in 

 suitable situations, throughout the trip. It is geiie)'ally dis- 

 tributed over tlie greater portion of the Australian Continent, 

 and it also occurs in Tasmania, but it is there very rare. This 

 bird is beneficial to all engaged in rural pursuits, feasting 

 on the ground upon the grass eating ]arv8e of numerous injui-- 

 ious insects, as well as on a. small land mollusc, one of the 

 intermediate hosts of fluke. It also frequents newly ploughed 

 lands, orchards, vineyards and plantations, ridding the soil of 

 many insect pests, among tlie latter being the Sugar Cane 

 eating larvae of a beetle which does much damage in the cane 

 fields. 



COLLYKIOCINCLA HARMONICA. 



Grey Shrike-Thrush. 



Tardus Itanuoiiicus, Lath., Ind. Orn., Suppl., p. xli, (1801). 

 (loll'uricivcla hariimnica, Gould, Bds. Austr., fol., ii., pi. 74 

 (1848) ; id., Handbk Bds. Austr., i., p. 220 (1865). 



Collyriucincla harmonica, Sharpe, Cat. Bds., iii., j). 290(1877) ; 

 North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., 2nd. ed., i., pt. ii., p. 

 92 (1902). 



