174 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



of October, forming a nest of dried sticks in the thickest 

 part of the foliage of a gum- or mahogany-tree and laying 

 three eggs, the ground-colour of which is either reddish buff 

 or wood-brown, marked over nearly the whole of the surface 

 with blotches of a darker tint ; their medium length is one inch 

 and nine lines by one inch and two and a half lines broad. 



The sexes resemble each other so closely in colour, that it 

 is impossible to distinguish the one from the other, except by 

 dissection. 



All the upper surface leaden grey, becoming much darker 

 on the forehead and lores ; wings black ; secondaries mar- 

 gined with grey and tipped with white ; basal half of the 

 inner webs of the primaries white, of the outer webs grey ; 

 the remainder of their length black, slightly tipped with 

 white ; tail black, margined with grey and largely tipped 

 with white ; all the under surface greyish brown ; under tail- 

 coverts white ; irides orange ; bill and feet black. 



Genus GYMNORHINA. 1^> ' ' ^ "^ ^ 



Like Strepera, this is strictly an Australian form, the 

 structure of which is a mere modification of that of the 

 members of the last genus adapted to a somewhat different 

 mode of life and habits. The species, being more pastoral in 

 their habits than the StrepercB, frequent the open plains and 

 grassy downs, over which they hop with great facility. Their 

 chief food consists of grasshoppers and other insects, to 

 which berries and fruits are added, when procurable. Few 

 birds are more ornamental, or give a more animated appear- 

 ance to the country, than the members of this genus, either 

 when passing over the surface of the ground, or when pouring 

 forth their singular choral-like notes while perched together 

 on the bare branches of a fallen Eucalyptus. The form and 

 situation of their nests are the same as those of the SirepercB. 



