CEACTICUS NIGROGULAEIS. 



(Black-throated Grow Shrike.) 



Head, neck, chest, middle of the back, and two central feathers of the tail, black ; wings, black, except the shoulder, spurious wing, and a 

 white longitudinal mark down the centre ; upper and lower portions of the back and the abdomen, white ; lateral tail feathers, black, largely 

 tipped with white ; bill, lead color, tipped with black ; irides, dark brown ; feet, black. The sexes are alike, but the young are brownish in 

 those parts which are black in the adults. 



Length, 13^ inches ; wing, 7 ; tail, 6 ; bill, If ; tarsus, 1^. 



This rather plentiful species is found in New South "Wales and Queensland, and to a considerable distance inland. It gene- 

 rally is met with in pairs ; and in those parts of the country known as " apple-tree flats " it is more common than elsewhere. Its powerful 

 hooked bill serves it for tearing to pieces prey which other birds of its size would avoid ; small mammalia, birds, and lizards, large grasshoppers, 

 phasmidoe, and other insects serving it for food. The upper part of a gum tree is usually chosen in which to build. The nest, which is rather 

 open and large, is formed of sticks neatly lined with fine fibrous roots. Eggs, four ; dark yellowish brown, spotted and clouded with darker 

 markings, and in some eases a few small black spots. Size, 1 inch 3 lines by 11 lines. 



CRACTICUS PICATUS. 



(Pied Crow Shrike.) 



This species is so similar to the former as to need no separate description, but differs in being smaller in size and in having rather more white 

 on the scapularies and wing coverts. The irides are reddish brown, and the feet greenish grey. 



Length, 12 inches ; wing, 6i ; tail, 4| ; bill. If ; tarsus, 1\. 



It inhabits the northern portions of the continent. At Port Essington it is usually seen in small companies of three or four. 

 Its voice is loud and discordant ; and being of a shy and retiring disposition, it frequents the denser and more secluded parts of the forest. 



CRACTICUS DESTRUCTOR. 



(Butcher Bird.) 



Crowk, back of the neck, face, primaries, and two central tail feathers, black ; back and shoulders, light grey ; lateral feathers of tail, black, 

 much tipped with white on the inner webs ; lores, throat, all the under surface, and a longitudinal mark in the centre of the wing, white ; 

 bill, bluish lead color, tipped with black ; feet, nearly black ; irides, dark reddish brown. The female is not so brightly colored as the male 

 the dark portions of the plumage assuming a brownish tint. 



Length, Hi inches ; wing, 5i ; tail, 4| ; bill, 1\ ; tarsus, If. 



The southern and eastern portions of Australia are the habitat of this species, which is one of the most plentiful of the genus 

 to which it belongs. As its name implies, it is in the habit of fixing its prey upon the large thorns with which so many Australian trees and 

 bushes are so plentifully furnished, though it finds no difficulty in disposing of it without such assistance. It is a bird of restless disposition, 

 and the presence of a stranger near its haunts soon elicits a note of alarm or enquiry. It possesses a voice of extraordinary capability and 

 variety, and is often caged and taught to utter articulate sounds. Though ordinarily shy, it at times exhibits much boldness, and pounces upon 

 its prey like a hawk. Its food consists of mice, birds, small reptiles, and insects. Its nest is neatly formed of sticks, and lined with fibrous 

 roots or the fine twigs of the casuarina. Eggs, three ; variable — some being dark yellowish brown, marked and blotched obscurely with a 

 darker tint and a few spots like ink, or lighter in the ground color and the markings inclining to red. Size, 1 inch 3 lines by 11 lines. 



