OP VICTORIA. 85 



BLACK-FACED CUCKOO-SHRIKE 



(Blue Jay, Blue Pigeon), 



Graiicalus melauops, Gld. 



Grd'ka-lus rtiel-a-nops. 

 Graucalus, a perversion of gramthis, a jackdaw ; melas^, black ; 



ops, a face. 

 Craucalus melanops, CtOuIcI, "Birds of Australia," fol., vol. ii., 



pi. 55. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. 



Key to the Species. — Adult — Upper surface grey ; throat, sides 

 of face, feathers round eye, and forehead black ; fore-neck and 

 breast grey, shading into white on abdomen and under tail 

 coverts. Bill broad, measured at gape equals outer toe without 

 claw ; culmen, 1 inch. 

 ; Young — Throat and forehead grey. 



The graceful wave-like flight of this species will always 

 attract your eyes when the bird is upon the wing, or, if at 

 rest, the composed posture and quiet chatter of one or 

 more of the family are sure to interest you. Upon return 

 in September from their migratory tour the flock plays 

 very much among the trees, passing from one to another in 

 the gentlest of manners, till the party breaks up for the 

 purpose of nest-building, and, possibly, more serious 

 thoughts. The birds then become sedately quiet, and one 

 will remain upon a branch for hours while its sitting mate 

 is upon the nest. In the heat of the day the Graucalus 

 always rests amongst the foliage. The notes of the bird 

 are similar to those of the Oriole, neither of which are 

 describable, unless as Gould has it, " a peculiar purring or 

 jarring sound uttered several times in succession, and, as a 

 whole, given at long intervals." The vernacular name is 

 rendered, I venture to state, because of its likeness on one 



