132 



the foregoing fairly representative species, their general deportment in 

 captivity appears very' similar, in spite of the fact that some are found 

 occupying the tops of lofty trees, while others frequent bushes and small 

 trees. Also they all appear equally to thrive on ripe fruit, milk sop, hi- 

 sectile mixture and insects. It is to be hoped that the brighter plnmaged 

 species may now be fairly frequently imported. 



PIED GRALLINA (Grallina pictata) : This is a very fine and striking 

 species, with Wagtail-like movements and demeanour. Gould states that 

 few of the Australian birds are more attractive or more elegant and grace- 

 ful in its actions, and these, combined with its tame and familiar disposition, 

 must ever obtain for it the friendship and protection of the settlers. He 

 also states that he has specimens from N.S. Wales, Swan River and Port 

 Kssington, but believes it to be pretty generally distributed over the greater 

 part of Australia. Its flight is however very different to that of the English 

 Pied Wagtail, it flies mostly in a straight line with a heavy flapping motion 

 of the wings; it is a much larger bird than the English Wagtail. Its 

 plumage calls for but a brief description, it is almost equally pied, glisten- 

 ing black and white ; a handsome and striking bird. The female differs 

 from the male in having more white on the head. The nest is composed of 

 soft mud, which soon hardens in the sun, and has the appearance of a large 

 open earthenware vessel, five to six inches in diameter and three inches 

 deep. I have as yet seen but little of these interesting and beautiful birds 

 — their demeanour is already confiding and their form and deportment 

 graceful in the extreme; when on the ground their Wagtail-like run is 

 very noticeable. To the settlers these birds are known as Magpie I/arks 

 and Little Magpies, while the Aboriginies call them By-yoo-gool-yee-de and 

 Dil-a-but. 



COACH-WHIP BIRD {Psophodes crepitans): This bird did not lend 

 itself to detailed notes of its plumage when I saw it at the Zoo; it fully kept 

 up its reputation as a shy and retiring species, so I quote herewith Gould's 

 description in exlenso : — 



"The male has the head, ear coverts, chin and breast black ; a large patch of white 

 "on each side of the neck, all the upper surface, wings, flanks, and base of the tail 

 " feathers olive-green ; the remaining portion of the tail feathers black, except that the 

 " three lateral feathers on each side are tipped with white; under surface olive-brown, 

 " some of the feathers on the centre of abdomen tipped with white, and forming a con- 

 spicuous irregular patch; irides brownish-red ; bill, inside and out, and base of the 

 "tongue black; feet reddish-brown." 



It is a shy and retiring species found only in dense brushes, and is 

 confined to N.S. Wales, where it is very abundant. Though new to the 

 London Zoo. I saw this species several years ago in the aviaries of Mr. R. 

 Phillipps; in this instance too I had no opportunity of observing the bird 

 owing to its retiring nature, but had ample opportunity of listening to its 

 realistic call, which exactly resembles the crack of a whip. 

 Other species will be noticed in next issue. 



