Vol. XIV. 



1915 



1 Cheney, Birds of WuHgavatta District, Victoria. 213 



Taeniopygia castanotis. Chestnut-eared Finch — One pair Was 

 seen on a haystack. 



ffigintha temporalis. Red-browed Finch. — Small flocks commonly 

 met with. They sometimes made a nest among the reeds. 



Sturnus vulgaris. Starling. — These birds infested the hedges to such 

 an extent that people frequently cut the plants down. 



Oriolus viridus. Olive-backed Oriole. — These birds destroyed a 

 great many "woolly-bear" caterpillars in one paddock by knocking 

 them against a tree and then eating them. An occasional nest was 

 found. 



Corvus coronoides. Hazel-eyed Crow. — ^Not often seen. 



Corvus australis. Australian Raven. — Wherever one went these 

 birds were met with. One used to enter our fowl-house and steal the 

 eggs. 



Strepera graculina. Pied Bell-Magpie. — Small flocks suddenly paid 

 a visit to some particular spot, and filled the air with sharp cries, 

 something like the bark of a dog. They came in dozens to the 

 pepper-trees in the school-ground. 



Strepera anaphonensis. Grey Bell-Magpie. — Very common in the 

 orchards. 



Strepera fuliginosa. Sooty Bell-Magpie. — I saw, at Carrara- 

 garmungee, two dark birds which I took to belong to this species. 

 They were fearless, allowing me to get close to them, first hopping 

 about on the branches of a dead tree, and then coming down to the 

 ground. This was on 20th April, 19 14. 



Cracticus nigrogularis. Black-throated Butcher-Bird. — Seldom 

 seen. 



Cracticus destructor. Collared Butcher-Bird. — As destructive as it 

 is common, being responsible for the death of many Pardalotes. 



Gymnorhina tibicen. Black-backed Magpie. — This species was well 

 represented, as also was Gymnorhina leuconota 'White-backed Magpie). 

 The birds were both tame and playful. After a good dinner from 

 the scraps left by the children, they would get twigs and roll on their 

 backs, tossing the scraps about like mischievous puppies. One 

 bird would imitate the " miaou " of our cat, knowing that I would 

 be likely to go out with some meat if I thought that the cat was 

 hungry. 



Further Field Notes on the EmU'Wren (Stipittirus 



malachurus). 



By (Miss) J. A. Fletcher, Springfield (Tas.) 



During the two seasons which have elapsed since my notes on 

 the Emu-Wren [Stipiturits maUichiiviis) appeared in The Emu* 

 I have had many opportunities of studying these fascinating 

 birds. Each pair of birds keeps to its particuhu" haunt throughout 

 the year. After travehing some distance in search of food, the 

 birds will invariably be found back at the home corner in the 

 evening or morning. 



* Emu, vol. xii., part j. 



16 



