CROWS AND PIPING-CROWS 



249 



the trees in the form of a pyramid, rising to a height varying from 4 feet to 6 or 

 even 8 feet. A similar pile of inferior height— about 18 inches— is then built around 

 the foot of the other tree ; the intervening space being arched over with stems of 

 climbing plants, and the piles decorated with white moss, and the arch with similar 

 moss, mingled with clusters of green fruit resembling wild grapes. Through and 

 over the covered run play the birds, young and old, of both sexes. The completion 

 of the massive bower is, however, insufficient to arrest the architectural impulse of 

 its owner, for scattered around are 

 a number of dwarf, hut-like struc- 

 tures — -which seem to be built by 

 bending towards each other strong 

 stems of standing grass, and capping 

 them with a horizontal thatch of 

 light twigs. In and around these 

 gunyas, as they are termed by the 

 natives, and from one to another, 

 the birds in their play pursue each 

 other to their heart's content. 

 During the nesting - season the 

 bowers are tenanted only by the 

 male birds, the females having duties 

 which demand their presence else- 

 where. 



Crows and In the crow tribe, 



Piping-Crows. or Corvidce, the moun- 

 tain-crow (Cercocoronus melano- 

 rhamphus) is the Australian repre- 

 sentative of the choughs of Europe 

 and Asia, although belonging to a 

 genus by itself. In colour it is 

 black above and white beneath, as 

 well as on the under-side of the 

 wings, while the legs and feet are 

 black. Allied to the magpies and 

 jays of other regions is the so-called 

 bullfinch-jay {Brachyjirorus ciner- 

 etis), a bird which in appearance 



much resembles a jay, but is of smaller size, and grey in colour, with dark brown 

 wings and a glossy black tail. It is remarkable for building a nest of clay in the 

 shape of a bowl. The Australian crow (Corvus austral is) may be only a local 

 race of the European species. The so-called Australian magpie, piping-crow, 

 or organ-bird (Gymnorhina organica), is, on the other hand, an exclusive and 

 characteristic Australian type. About the size of an ordinary crow, with a pied 

 plumage, it is famed for its loud notes and wonderful power of imitating not 

 only the human voice but the sounds of musical instruments. This bird ranges 

 all over Australia, but there are two other species in that country and a third 



PIPING-CROW. 



