84 AUSTRALIA AND THE AUSTRALIANS. 



laughing-jackass or giant kingfisher, and the Aus- 

 tralian magpie, which can speak very distinctly. Wife 

 and I were walking through the market, and stepped 

 up to mag's cage, when she said in good, plain English : 

 " Who are you ? " " Oh," I said, " Mag, I'm afraid you 

 don't attend temperance meetings, though I have no 

 doubt you are a sensible, cold-water bird." The Aus- 

 tralian magpie has not that thieving, mischievous 

 propensity which characterizes his English cousin. 

 They are not only a harmless bird, but very useful as 

 grub-destroyers. There is a law against killing them. 

 They are to be seen almost everywhere, sometimes in 

 great numbers. They have no song. They have, how- 

 ever, a very metallic, musical note which is varied with 

 a full, round whistle. This metallic note has secured 

 for them from some ornithologists the name of " bell- 

 bird," though they are never recognized by that name 

 in Australia. 



The only representation I can give of a magpie 

 chorus in the early morning is that of fifty boys, half 

 of whom are tapping with small hammers upon an- 

 vils, while the others are sounding short notes at the 

 same time on fifes and flutes. 



