THE WHITE-BACKED MAGPIE 345 



The White-backed Magpie. 



G. leuconota. 



Adult male: Generally gloss,y black, except that the whole of the 

 upper surface except the outer parts of the wings and a terminal band 

 of the tail are white, as also the under wing and tail-coverts and the 

 vent; bill bluish-white through bluish-slate to bluish-black at the tip; 

 iris light hazel; legs black. Adult female: Black colour less intense, hind 

 neck and back grey. Male: Total length 17 inches, culmen 2.2, wing 11. .5, 

 tail 7.25, tarsus 2.5. Female: Total length 16.25 inches, eulmen 2, wing 

 1(1.75, tail 6, tarsus 2.25. 



Magpies are the most valiant of our native birds. At 

 breeding time they will attack any bird or beast which 

 approaches the neighbourhood of the nest. Mr. Campbell once 

 saw a pair drive off a Wedge-tailed Eagle. The birds attacked 

 from above — "every thrust making tufts of feathers fly from 

 between the shoulders of the great bird of prey." Hawks are 

 dealt with summarily. It is not at all an exceptional experience 

 in the country, as you approach the tree in which the nest is 

 placed, for the old bird to come whizzing past close to your head. 

 This by way of warning. If you come too near the next sweep 

 may send your hat flying away. Nearer still and the attack will 

 be still more personal. Small boys climbing for the nest are 

 assaulted without mercy, and the bird is much the more likely 

 to get the best of the encounter. 



Magpies are eminently social birds. Out of the breeding 

 season, they scatter to hunt for grubs, insects and lizards in the 

 morning, and collect together at sundown in smaller or larger 

 companies to roost in the trees. Mr. I. Batey of Sunbury, 

 Victoria, relates that as many as 2,000 used to resort to a 

 secluded clump of box-trees (Buealypts) near his homestead. 

 When thus in company they give forth their beautiful piping 

 notes rendering matins and evensong. "One bird starts the 

 carol, others chime in, and all conclude in a most joyful chorus 

 as of thankfulness to the departing day. ' ' 



The wooing is after the style of some aboriginal tribes. 

 Mv. Batey, who had extraordinary opportunities for studying 

 the ways of these birds, says "This generally commences in 

 pursuit, and culminates in a pitched battle between the amorous 

 parties on the ground. They tumble over and over, and go at it 

 with beak and claw, screaming all the while, a lot of old birds of 



