OF VICTORIA. 231 



sliooting, but soon return if not continually watched. 

 They are particularly destructive to grapes, which they 

 appear to swallow whole, and, notwithstanding the pro- 

 tection by nets, they manage to get at the fruit by search- 

 ing carefully for any small opening which may be accidentally 

 left, and even sometimes cut their way through the net 

 itself. If the bunches be bagged they will look for a small 

 opening, and if present make it larger with their bills. I 

 have known them to tear their way through the bag, if not 

 of strong material, and then at leisure devour every berry. 

 Large fruit is generally cut to pieces and devoured as it 

 grows, but it is sometimes carried off after the manner of the 

 common Crow to a neighbouring tree, probably impaled on 

 the bird's beak if too large to carry in the ordinary way. 

 It seems strange that the Satin Bower-bird, the Oriole 

 (Oriolus viridis), and other fruit-eating birds should often 

 accompany the Streperas in their marauding expeditions, 

 arriving and departing with them, and even mimicking their 

 notes." Continuing his notes. Dr. Norton remarks: — " It is 

 only fair to say that, though the Strepera is so terribly 

 destructive in my neighbourhood, yet in other places he 

 does little or no mischief, probably confining himself to an 

 insectivorous diet and adding the wild fruits, which he eats 

 here when the garden fruit is gone, and among others that 

 introduced nusiance, Phytolacca (ink plant)," 



The plate illustrates the Pied Crow-Shrike {S. graculina, 

 White), referred to above. 



Nest. — Open and made of twigs, lined with finer twigs ; 

 placed in trees between forks. 



Eggs. — Three or four to the sitting ; pale ruddy-brown, 

 marked liberally with darker brown. Length, 1 -5 inches ; 

 breadth, 1 inch. 



