86 Batey, Magpies or Crow-Shrikes. [ist^'oct. 



there was one nest there were thirty. This state of things was 

 brought about by having a very wet season, so wet that in 

 sumnaer time we had floods. True, if sheoaks had been as 

 plentiful as of old, fewer nests would have been found along 

 the course of the stream. Magpies are prone to display hostility 

 towards other ground-feeders, still for all that the attacks they 

 make on such are mere skirmishes, except at times that one may 

 be seen chasing a Ground-Lark, with a bitter determination to 

 capture the dapper little fellow. A chase of this description is 

 a rare occurrence — probably in my career it was not witnessed 

 more than twice or thrice. The start of the hunt was never 

 seen ; the first thing noted was the Lark, pretty high in air, 

 with the foe in hot pursuit. The Magpie would swoop up to 

 his intended victim ; this the Lark would evade by a sudden 

 swerve, consequently when the pursuer got going again the 

 pursued had gained a good start. Whether a capture was 

 effected is beyond me to say ; even if it were the case, the pair 

 would be too far away to note the climax One thing that 

 seemed plain was that the impelling motive was murder, and if 

 accomplished we may take it for granted that the Magpie would 

 eat the victim. In the long ago, when Grey Magpies {Strepera) 

 came in numbers, it was very comical to see a pack of Gynnnor- 

 htftcE set upon one of those un warlike fellows. They did give 

 him an unmerciful thrashing. I have seen them send him 

 sprawling to the ground, and when he took wing again his 

 tormentors pegged him on the back as he dashed forward to 

 gain the friendly shelter of a tree. Whilst receiving his 

 buffetings, poor Strepera screamed lustily. Once in his place 

 of refuge his tormentors left him alone ; then after a space he 

 would start levering off loose bark, in search of insects, just as if 

 nothing had ever occurred to upset his equanimity. 



When dasyures (native cats) were in plenty, I believe they 

 captured an occasional Magpie in low trees at night. A bird 

 would be heard screaming as if being killed, some of his mates 

 meanwhile uttering alarm cries, but after the prisoner had ceased 

 to cry out, some of the other birds struck up a merry tune. 

 What was the reason for this outburst of song is a difficult 

 question to answer. 



To conclude, it is satisfactory to note that many people praise 

 Magpies for their songs. This is as it should be, for no person 

 endowed with an ear for bird-music could listen to their beautiful 

 voices without being charmed. Here, for instance, one Sept- 

 ember forenoon, having to go to Mickleham, I crossed the plain 

 just below Teuton's Hill, on Bolinda estate. What it was 

 for Magpies in olden times on the plains will never be forgotten. 

 The songs of those near at hand rang out loud and clear, and the 

 vocalisation of those afar off drifted down in what might be 

 designated a faint, murmurous melody. 



