BIRDS OF OUR BUSH 



However, to return to the Magpie. It is our great 

 regret that such a popular and famous Australian should 

 not be well figured in this book. The best we can do for 

 the reader is a poor picture of a young bird bearing a very 

 woe-begone expression. Certainly there is a fine specimen 

 of the Magpie tribe tame, or supposed to be, in the back 

 yard of one of our homes. We could have pictured him and 

 done full justice to the dignity of the species, were it not 

 that, as explained before, we have a well-defined objection 

 to publishing pictures which are not genuine representa- 

 tions of the wild bird. 



There are two species of Magpie in Victoria, and their 

 habits, we believe, are much alike. There is a noticeable 

 difference, however, which the names of the species indi- 

 cate, in the colour of the back. The White-backed species 

 is widely distributed, but the Black-backed is found only 

 on the Northern side of the Dividing Range and is therefore 

 little known to us. Our remarks, therefore, refer only to 

 the White-backs. Nests may be found early in the season, 

 from August onwards, so early that it comes often as a 

 shock when a sudden swoop and clap of a vicious beak 

 remind one that nesting has commenced. The nest is a 

 large structure of sticks, easily seen, at a fair height, in a 

 gum-tree for preference. It is lined with grasses and horse- 

 or cow-hair. The eggs, usually three in number, vary 

 greatly with the different clutches. So much so that 

 description is practically useless. The most usual colour, 

 however, is a stone ground, with heavy blotches of dark 

 brown or purple. 



The Magpie is a useful insect destroyer, whose living 

 comes from the soil — rather unwillingly it may be said. 

 We are unable to say whether wild Magpies show similar 

 tendencies, but the so-called tame bird above referred to 

 has not a great deal of time — or space — for worms, unless 

 they are very small and tender. The larger ones he 

 ignores. Possibly he is too well fed. 



The Kookaburra, or Laughing Jackass, is as well known 

 as the Magpie. However, these birds have little in common 

 other than that they derive their livelihood mainly from the 

 ground, and their dispositions are less alike than chalk and 

 cheese. The Magpie is a tireless, energetic bird, while the 

 Jackass is stolid and thoughtful. 



With the Kookaburra we have had much more success 



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