U BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



SOOTY CKOW-SHEIKE (Black Jay) 

 (Strcpcra fuliginosa, Gould). 



Male. — Whole of the upper and under surfaces sooty-black, 

 the under surface having a slight tinge of ashy-grey; bases of the 

 inner webs of the primaries white ; the outer ones are broadly 

 banded with the same colour, and there is also a narrow edging of 

 white at the tips of some of the secondaries; tail dusky-black, all 

 the feathers with the exception of the two central ones broadly 

 tipped with white; bill, legs, and feet black; irides yellow. Dimen- 

 sions in mm. : — Length, 455; bill, 57; wing, 255; tail, 173; tarsus, 

 56. 



Female. — Similar in plumage, but smaller in dimensions. 



Young. — Small edition of adult. 



Nest. — Constructed of sticks and twigs, lined with fine twigs 

 and long, fine rootlets. Altitude of nest greatly depends upon 

 locality. 



Eggs. — Clutch two to four; usually more pointed at one end; 

 texture fairly fine ; surface moderately glossy ; colour rich pur- 

 plish or dark vinaceous buff, blotched all over with reddish-brown 

 and purplish-brown. Dmiensions in mm. of odd examples : — (1) 45 

 X 32, (2) 42 X 30, (3) 43 x 31. 



Breeding Season. — September to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, King Island, and 

 several groups of islands in Bass Strait; also Victoria, New South 

 Wales, South Australia, and Queensland. 



Observations. — Anyone who has had any experience of the 

 bush cannot but be familiar with this black bird with its con- 

 spicuous white tips to its tail feathers and its loud and harsh 

 note. Before orchards came into existence here the food of the 

 Black Jay was almost entirely insectivorous, a few berries being 

 added to give variety. Now, in some of the northern districts, at 

 least, as soon as the apples turn red a marauding band floats down 

 silently from the tree-tops of the surrounding forest and takes toll. 

 A sentinel is always posted on the highest neighbouring tree-top 

 to give the alarm. After land has been scrubbed and burnt, this 

 bird may often be seen in large flocks going carefully over the 

 ground searching for food. After having been shot at a few times 

 it becomes very shy and cunning, and is very careful to give no 

 warning of its presence when near an orchard. When flitting from 

 log to log its tail is jerked up and down, slightly fanned. On the 

 approach of rain or any atmospheric disturbance it is more noisy 

 than at other times. Its cry, which is familiar to most people, is 

 " Killok, killok," varying in tone according to the circumstances 

 under wliich it is uttered. 



