INSESSORES. 171 



Sp. 90. STREPERA ARGUTA, Gould. 



Hill Crow-Shrike. 



Strepera arguta, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part xiv. p. 19. 

 melanoptera, Gould, Id. p. 20. 



Strepera arguta, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. ii. pi. 44. 



The Strepera arguta is abundantly dispersed over Tasmania, 

 but is more numerous in the central parts of the island than 

 in the districts adjacent to the coast ; it also inhabits South 

 Australia, in which country it is more scarce, and all the 

 specimens I have seen are rather smaller in size. I have 

 never seen it in any part of New South Wales that I have 

 visited, neither have specimens occurred in the numerous col- 

 lections from the west coast that have come under my notice. 

 It is the largest, the boldest, and the most animated species 

 of the genus yet discovered. If not strictly gregarious, it is 

 often seen in small companies of from four to ten, and during 

 the months of winter even a greater number are to be seen 

 congregated together. The districts most suited to its habits 

 are open glades in the forest and. thinly-timbered hills : 

 although it readily perches on the trees, its natural resort is 

 the ground, for which its form is admii'ably adapted, and over 

 which it passes with amazing rapidity, either in a succession 

 of leaps or by running. Fruits being but sparingly diffused 

 over Australia, insects necessarily constitute almost its sole 

 food, and of these nearly every order inhabiting the surface of 

 the ground forms part of its diet ; grasshoppers are devoured 

 with great avidity. 



Its note is a loud ringing and very peculiar sound, some- 

 what resembling the words clink, clink, several times repeated, 

 and strongly reminded me of the distant sound of the strokes 

 on a blacksmith's anvil ; and hence the term arguta appeared 

 to me to be an appropriate specific appellation for this new 

 species. 



