MAGPIES * 341 



swayed in the wind, the bird perching on the rim to feed the 

 young. Both birds took part in this office. While the 

 one was on duty, the other was away hunting for 

 insects. Sometimes the nest bird would cry as if 

 impatient. An answering call wotild come from the 

 mate, and presently he would fly up, the other bird starting off 

 as soon as he reached the bough. The birds changed their offices 

 at intervals of seven minutes to a quarter of an hour. When the 

 young could fly, they were attended by their parents, the family 

 keeping together for several weeks. In the Royal Park, 

 Melbourne, a flock of about fifty of these birds is to be found 

 nearly all the year round, but only two pairs nest regularly, 

 and nearly always in the same tree, and that they have done for 

 many years ; but the young they rear always seek fresh scenes. 

 The eggs, two to four or five, vary considerably, white or reddish- 

 white with purplish-brown markings, usually forming a zone 

 at the larger end. They measure about 1.1 by about .8 inch. 

 Wood Swallows (Artamus) frequently build their own nests in 

 the old nests of Magpie Larks. 



Family Laniidce. "Crow Shrikes." 



Bill either strong, with curved culmen, with hook and notch, 

 black or dark-brown, or with straight culmen, almost without 

 hook and notch, bluish-white. Wing with ten primaries. Tail 

 with twelve feathers. Non-migratory, insectivorous. Nest 

 containing a few coloured eggs, built in a tree. 



Suh-family Gymnorhinince 



Nostrils midway between base and tip of bill. 



Bill very straight and pointed, scarcely hooked. Tail 



not half the length of the wing. Gymnorhina. 



Bill rather curved, strongly hooked. Tail little shorter 



than wing. Cracticus. 



Magpies. 



Genus Gymnorhina. 

 Bill longer than rest of head, slightly notched. Nostrils 

 longitudinal slits, quite bare of feathers. Wings very long and 



