36 Bird-keeping. 



a long whistle, then a crow which set all the cocks in 

 the neighbourhood crowing, then would cackle so like 

 a hen as to induce the cook to go and search for the 

 newly-laid egg, and end by imitating the bark of a little 

 dog to the life. If he was taken out of his cage by 

 Mr. Bennett, he would lie flat on his back in his hand, 

 as if dead, with his legs in the air. This bird died on 

 his voyage to England : he was continually fighting 

 with a young game cock, whom he always conquered ; 

 but the unequal contest seemed to exhaust him so 

 much that it caused his death. 



Another Australian bird, the LAUGHING JACKASS 

 or SETTLER'S CLOCK (Paralcyon gigas or Dacelo 

 giganted), is kept by many of the colonists as a pet, 

 about their houses and gardens, and is useful in de- 

 stroying vermin, though it will occasionally pounce 

 upon young chickens, and carry off eggs. Though a 

 species of Kingfisher, it lives chiefly upon large insects, 

 snakes, lizards, and mice. Of late it has been frequently 

 brought to England, and though neither beautiful nor 

 attractive, some people consider it amusing from the 

 extraordinary gurgling or braying noise it makes : it 

 bears confinement well, and is generally fed on raw 

 meat. 



Every one knows the MAGPIE (Pica caudatd), but 

 few are aware of the beauty of its plumage, who only 

 see it penned up in a cage or at a distance. The white 

 is so exceedingly pure, and the black is shot with dark 



