170 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp. 89. STREPERA FULIGINOSA, Gould. 



Sooty Crow-Shrike. 



Cracticus fuliginosus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part iv. p. 106. 

 Coi'onica fuliginosa, Gould in Syn. Birds of Australia, part i. 

 Black Magpie of the Colonists. 



Strepera fiiliginosa, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. ii. pi. 43. 



This species is a permanent resident in Tasmania ; its range 

 also extends to the islands in Bass's Straits, and a few indivi- 

 duals have been found in South Australia. Its browner colour- 

 ing, more arched and gibbose bill, its smaller size, and the 

 absence of the white colouring of the under tail-coverts and of 

 the base of the primaries, are characters by which it may at 

 once be distinguished from most of the other members of the 

 group. The localities it frequents are also of a different de- 

 scription, those preferred being low swampy grounds in the 

 neighbourhood of the sea and woods bordering rivers. Like 

 the other species of the genus, it subsists on insects and 

 grubs of various kinds, to which pulpy seeds and berries are 

 frequently added. 



It is very active on the ground, passing over the surface 

 with great rapidity. 



It breeds in the low trees, constructing a large and deep 

 nest very similar to that of the European Crow, and lays three 

 eggs, of a pale vinous brown marked all over with large 

 irregular blotches of brown, one inch and five-eighths long by 

 one inch and a quarter broad. 



I have seen this bird in a state of captivity, and it appeared 

 to bear confinement remarkably well. 



The sexes present no visible difference except in size, the 

 female being smaller than the male ; they may be thus de- 

 scribed : — 



All the plumage sooty black, with the exception of the ends 

 of the primaries and all but the two middle tail-feathers, which 

 are white ; irides bright yellow ; bill and feet black. 



