The GyuinorJiincE or Australian Magpie. 205 



G. kuconola, Gray (The White-backed Magpie). 



This showy and splendid species inhabits the coastal regions 

 and more heavily forested parts of New South Wales, Victoria, 

 and South Australia. Whether it extends further west has not 

 been fully determined. In Victoria, south of the Great Dividing 

 Range, the White-backed species is very abundant. It is instruc- 

 tive to observe how that natural barrier divides the two species 

 — -the White-backed from the Black-backed variety. During 

 several trips on our main railway line across Victoria, I noted 

 White-backed Magpies very numerous as far as Mount Macedon 

 and Kyneton. Beyond, the numbers seemed to decrease. The 

 Urst Black-backed birds were seen at Malmsbury and Taradale. 

 The last White-backs were noted beyond Castlemaine at Hai'court 

 and Ravenswood. In the Sandhurst district the tide of Black- 

 Ijlacks had fairly set in, and by the time the plains of the 

 jNIurray were reached these birds were in great evidence. 



As may be expected the natural habits and characteristics of 

 tlie Black-backed Magpie appear in the White-backed species. 

 However, as Gould experienced, the White-backed birds are more 

 wary and shyer in disposition. To a discriminating ear the 

 delightful clear ringing call is fuller and louder in the AVhite- 

 backed than in the other species. I have endeavoured to class 

 the different notes, of which there appear three kinds at least — 

 the carol or song, a whistle-like call, and along " squawk "-like 

 note of alarm. The nidification of the White-back likewise 

 resembles that of the other. A nest taken in the Upper AVerribee 

 district measured 45| cm. (18 inches) across, while the inside 

 dimensions were 20^ cm. (8 inches) across, by 7^ cm. (3 inches) 

 deep. It was constructed as usual of dead twigs, and lined 

 inside with grass principally, casuarina needles and wool. A 

 complement of from three to live eggs is laid. There is in the 

 Adelaide Museum a curious exhibit, a nest of this species out- 

 wardly composed of twisted and crooked pieces of sheep fencing 

 wire. This season I saw taken from some Melaleuca scrub near 

 the coast, a nest composed entirely of wire-like roots, and well- 

 titted inside with string, pieces of jute, etc. The roots w-ei^e 

 Melaleuca, and had evidently been taken from a newly grubbed 

 piece of ground near. 



