130 NATURAL HISTOET SKETCHES. 



of the European wryneck, and was a summer migrant 

 to our parts. 



The real Australian Kingfisher is smaller than its 

 European namesake, which it resembles much in habits 

 and appearance ; it was, however, of a uniform purple- 

 blue colour, and the breast was deep orange ; it was a 

 summer migrant to us, and a pair or two might be then 

 seen on every creek : they bred in the hole of a bank, 

 and the eggs exactly resembled those of the British bird. 



Iso bush-bird to my fancy had a clearer or richer note 

 than the Magpie : one of the earliest birds of morning, 

 it was also one of the latest at night ; and the deep, flute- 

 like evening song of the magpie was heard in the forest 

 long after all the other birds of day had retired to roost. 

 The Australian magpie is more like a rook in shape than 

 its British namesake, but not so large and clumsy, and 

 it wants the long bronze-tinted tail of the European 

 bird ; it is, however, a graceful, elegant bird, and the 

 rich black plumage of the breast and wings contrasts 

 finely with the pure white of the back. The females and 

 young birds are mottled grayish blue and white ; but I 

 always fancied we had two species, the one mottled, the 

 other black and white. The magpie is a very common 

 bird throughout the bush during the whole year, often 

 in small companies ; and in the autumn the old and young 

 birds congregate in flocks. It is by no means shy, and 

 one of the best cage-birds in the colony ; for they are 

 easily tamed, and soon learn to imitate any call or noise. 

 Unlike the magpie at home, it builds a careless shallow 



