46 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



FAMILY-LANIID/E (5 species). 



Sub-Family — Gymnorhinae. 



*LESSEK WHITE-BACKED MAGPIE 



{Gymnorhina hyperleuca, Gould). 



Male. — Head, scapulars, primaries and secondaries, terminal 

 half of tail, and entire under surface, save under tail coverts, 

 glossy black ; hind-neck, back, upper and under tail coverts, basal 

 half of tail, shoulders, wing coverts, and basal half of outer webs 

 of primary coverts jDure white ; irides yellowish-brown ; bill bluish- 

 horn colour, tip black; legs and feet black. Dimensions in mm. : — 

 Length, 865; bill, 46; wing, 240; tail, 140; tarsus, 55. 



Female. — Back greyish-white; under sui'face greyish-black 

 without gloss. 



Yoiaig. — Male. — Upper surface ashy-grey; wing coverts parti- 

 coloured, black and white; under surface more grey than black; 

 irides hazel; bill lead-coloured; legs and feet black. 



Nest. — Open and bowl-shaped ; sticks, twigs, and strips of 

 eucalypt bark constitute the main items in its composition ; the 

 inside lining consists principally of grass and shredded bark. The 

 situation usually chosen is in the forked branches of a eucalypt, 

 generally some distance from the ground. Although the same nest 

 is but rarely if ever used during successive seasons, the same tree 

 is frequently resorted to year after year. 



Eggs. — Clutch three to four; oval in shape; texture fine; 

 surface glossy; colour light greenish, blotched and marked all over 

 with rather dark umber. In some clutches both the ground colour 

 and the markings vary a good deal, but the above description may 

 be taken as typical. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch : — (1) 36 x 26, 

 (2) 37 X 25.5, (3) 36 x 25.5, (4) 37 x 26. 



Breeding Season. — August or September to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania. 



Observations. — Although this species is one of the best known 

 birds in many districts in Tasmania, yet there are parts where 

 it is almost if not quite an absolute stranger. It is only within 

 the last few years that it has extended its range to any extent on 

 the West Coast, and I am given to understand that even now in 

 the more densely timbered and moist localities it is unknown. 

 The male bird is by far the handsomer of the two, especially 

 during the breeding season, when the contrast between the white 

 upper surface and the black under surface is very pronounced. 

 To Tasmania belongs the privilege of being the first State to 

 recognize the INIagpie as being of economic value, and to extend 

 protection to it. In 1879, under the Game Protection Act, 42 Vict. , 

 No. 24, it was decreed that whosoever killed the birds or destroyed 

 their eggs would be liable to a penalty not exceeding £1. In 1885 

 this Act was extended, under 48 Vict., No. 35, so that persons 



