OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 253 



SOOTY CROW-SHRIKE 



(Black Magpie), 



Strepera fiiligmosa, Gld. 



StTejye-rii fu-li-j l-no' sd. 

 Strepo, to make a noise ; fidigo, fuliginis, soot. 

 Strepera fuliginosa, Gould, " Birds of Australia," fol., vol. ii., pi, 43. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas 4, 5, G. 



Key to the Species. — General appearance sooty-black ; wing quills 

 with white tips nearly 1.5 inches broad; under tail coverts 

 blackish ; nostrils bare and placed high in the maxilla. 



The six species of Strepera are commonly known as the Grey 

 or Black Magpie, according to the depth of sootiness in the 

 plumage. Five are to be found in the southern half of the 

 continent at all seasons of the year, and the sixth is a 

 Tasmanian species. In Western Australia there is a sub- 

 species of the grey variety. 



This so-called Magpie is not to be confused with the 

 Gymnorhina, which is a thoroughly useful bird, of good 

 reputation, whilst that of the Sooty Crow-ShriJ^e is a doubtful 

 one, most growers considering it little less than a thief. 

 Certainly the bird appears to be very sly, keeping its weather 

 eye open to possible trouble whilst pillaging the orchard — an 

 underhand action that is magnified into a crime by the chief 

 sufferer. 



The general habit of this species is to fossick for food upon 

 low-lying grounds, or in the vicinity of river courses, where 

 it can find insects and their larvae with the least amount of 

 labour. All the members of the genus adopt this means to 

 get a living, and they have become thoroughly expert in their 

 ground movements. In form there is a strong resemblance to 

 the Crow, but in habits there is a great difference. The Crow- 



