256 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



small opening, and if present, make it larger with tlieir bills. I 

 have known them to tear their way through the bag, if not of 

 strong material, and then at leisure devour every berry. 

 Large fruit is generally cut to pieces and devoured as it growls, 

 but it is sometimes carried off, after the manner of the 

 common Crow, to a neighbouring tree, probably impaled on 

 the bird's beak if too large to carry in the ordinary way. 

 It seems strange that the Satin Bower-bird, the Oriole 

 {Oriolus viridis), and other fruit- eating birds should often 

 accompany the Streperas in their marauding expeditions, 

 arriving and departing with them, and even mimicking their 

 notes." Continuing his notes. Dr. Norton remarks: — ''It 

 is only fair to say tiiat, though the Strepera is so terribly 

 destructive in my neighbourhood, yet in other places he does 

 little or no mischief, probably confining himself to an 

 insectivorous diet, and adding the wild fruits, which he eats 

 here when the garden, fruit is gone, and among others that 

 introduced nuisance, Phytolacca (ink plant)." 



The plate illustrates the adult, young, and nest of the 

 Black-winged Crow-Shrike, photogmphed by Mr. Mattingley 

 on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. 



Nest. — Open, and made of twigs, lined with fmer twigs ; 

 placed in trees, between forks. 



Eggs. — Three or four to a sitting ; pale ruddy-brown, marked 

 hberally with darker brown. Length, 1.5 inches ; breadth, 

 1 inch. 



