BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 13 



As elsewhere, the food of the Eaven varies from lambs' tongues 

 and eyes to fruit, eggs, and grubs. Its melancholy cawing note 

 is too common to be appreciated. 



HILL CEOW-SHEIKE (BLACK MAGPIE) 

 (Strepera arguta, Gould). 



Male. Upper and under surfaces blackish-brown; in 

 examples the under surface becomes grey; tail blackish-brown, ail 

 but the two central feathers broadly tipped with white; primaries 

 black, with basal half of inner webs white, extreme tips of some 

 soiled-white ; under tail coverts white ; irides saffron-yellow ; bill 

 legs, and feet black. Dimensions in mm.: Length, 536; bill, 

 70.5; wing, 292; tail, 255; tarsus, 68. 



Female. Plumage similar to male, dimensions slightly less. 



Nest. A somewhat rough open structure, composed of sticks 

 and twigs, lined with fine twigs, rootlets, and a little grass. In 

 some localities the nest is placed in a fairly low tree, in others in 

 a lofty one. 



Eggs. Clutch three to four; elongated oval in shape; texture 

 fairly fine; surface slightly rough, but glossy; colour pale vina- 

 ceous-brown, blotched all over with purplish-brown, a little light 

 reddish-brown, and a little umber. Dimensions in mm. of a pair : 

 (1) 44.5 x 29, (2) 44 x 29.5. 



"Breeding Season. September to December. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania. 



Observations. Parts of the West Coast and the Lake District 

 are the strongholds of this species, but it is to be seen and heard 

 in a number of other places, both north and south. As is well 

 known, Gould likened its note to the sound of a hammer on an 

 anvil, but to my mind the sound more resembles that of a tramway 

 gong, inasmuch as it is a "clanging" note rather than a "clinking" 

 one. 



Like the Black Jay, the Black Magpie has developed fruit- 

 stealing propensities, but to a lesser extent. During the depth of 

 winter, in the Lake District and round several mining camps on 

 the West Coast, it becomes very tame, flocking round dwellings 

 and eating any household scraps it can find. It is also much 

 appreciated as an article of diet in these localities during winter, 

 when it becomes very fat. The usual method of securing the 

 bird is to trap it by placing a portion of the inside, say, of a sheep 

 in a small paling enclosure with a piece of strong string attached to 

 one side, the free end some distance away. When a number of 

 birds have gathered inside the enclosure the string is pulled, and 

 down falls a slide, securely entrapping the birds beneath. One 

 of its favourite natural foods is the berry of the "stink wood" tree. 



