3 2 4 PERCHING BIRDS. 



The best known member of this genus is the black-backed piping crow (G. 

 tibicen), which is universally distributed over New South Wales; the white-backed 

 piping crow (G. leuconota) being restricted to the southern and western parts of the 

 Australian continent, and very abundant in Southern Australia. A third species (G. 

 organica), known to the colonists as the organ-bird is peculiar to Tasmania, and will 

 pour forth from the branch of some dead tree a succession of the strangest notes that 

 can be imagined, much resembling the sound of a hand-organ out of tune ; it is very 

 easily tamed, and can be taught to whistle various tunes as well as to articulate words. 



The black - backed species, which is the one given in our illustration, is 



BLACK-BACKED PIPING CROW ( T 3 jj nat. .size). 



bold and showy, enlivening and ornamenting the lawns and gardens of the 

 colonists by its presence, and with the slightest protection from molestation 

 becoming so tame and familiar that it approaches close to their dwellings and 

 perches around them and the stock-yards in small families of from six to ten in 

 number. Gould states that it prefers cleared lands, or open plains skirted by belts 

 of timber; hence the interior of the country is more favourable to it than the 

 neighbourhood of the coast. Its lively and intelligent habits and fine vocal powers 

 render it a favourite cage-bird both at home and abroad. The crown, back, and 

 under-parts are black ; and the nape, wing-coverts, and upper and under tail-coverts 

 white. Insectivorous in their habits, the piping crows live chiefly on grasshoppers, 

 of which they consume an enormous quantity. The breeding-season commences in 

 August and lasts till January, during which period each pair of birds nests twice. 



