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Mr. B. Theo. Stewart,



been written before, for they are an unfailing sense of interest in the

streets, and indeed in the harbours, where they are more numerous

than the other Kites.


Falcons—obviously “ Peregrines ”—of some sort, were occa¬

sionally seen on the wing, probably they were the Sh&hin (Falco

peregrinator ) or the Laggar ( F. jugger ) or both. There seems very

little to say about the raptorial birds of India that are so numerous

in species from the great Lammerguer to the tiny Falconet—of

which by the way I saw one, species unknown, shot by a friend in

Nepal Terai. But travelling as we did we had little chance of

seeing these, many of which are strictly forest birds.


(To be continued .)



THE AUSTRALIAN PIPING CROW.


By B. Theo. Stewart.


The Piping Crow or Magpie of Australia figures so largely in

prose and veise that everyone ought to be familiar with the bird.


I say ought to be, but apart from Aviculturists, I have found

very few people who do not ask me the eternal question “ What is

that strange looking bird ? ” They appear no wiser when told, so

now I leave them guessing.


Even in my nursery days the Piping Crow stronglv appealed

to me and I determined to possess one at the earliest opportunity.


I have had many since then.


Owing to the fact that the importation of this bird is now

strictly prohibited, a heavy fine being the penalty, the price of

Piping Crows has risen by leaps and bounds — anything up to £10

being asked by dealers, in fact, they are hardly to be procured at

any price. Times change truly — my first Crow cost me just under

a sovereign.


Writers speak of the “joyous whistle of the Piping Crow,”

but there is little of a joyous nature about the Never-Never bird.

His notes (that is—the wild caught bird) are powerful and mellow,

but to my thinking, melancholy. As a mimic he is great, but his

talking powers are somewhat overrated; many words are very clearly



