THE BUTCHEK-BIKDS 349 



The Black Butcher-bird. 



Cracticus rufescetis. 



Northern Avistralia. 



Evidently a local race of C. quoyi, which is found in the Papuan 

 Islands. The Australian forms seem rather greener in tint, and a little 

 smaller. The young males are rufous in colour, and change into the 

 black plumage about the second year. Dimensions of C. rufescens, total 

 length 13.10 inches, eulmen 2.3, wing 6.75, tail 5.8, tarsus 1.65. 



The Black-throated Butcher-bird. 



Cracticus nigrigularis. 



Generally distributed except Northern Territory and North-west 

 Australia. 



Head and neck all round, throat and chest glossy-black, remainder of 

 under surface pure white; a distinct white collar around the hind neck; 

 back black, lower back greyish; rump and upper tail-coverts pure white; 

 central pair of tail feathers entirely black, the others broadly tipped with 

 white; wing-coverts pure white, mostly black at base; sexes alike in 

 coloration. Total length 13 inches, eulmen 1.9, wing 7.1, tail 5.9, tarsus 

 1.45. 



The Pied Butcher-bird. 



Cracticus picatus. 



Northern Territory and North-west. 



Like preceding in colouring, but smaller and has a clear whistle for 

 its note; nests in open forest country. Total length 11 inches, eulmen 1.5, 

 wing 6.5, tail 3, tarsus 1.3. 



The White-winged Butcher-bird. 



Cracticus leucopterus. 



West Australia. 



Above silvery grey, with faint blackish shaft streaks; greater wing- 

 coverts tinged with brown strongly mottled with white, especially on the 

 outer web, which shows a. conspicuous white wing patch; upper tail 

 coverts pure white; all tail feathers black tipped with white; head and 

 middle of hind neck jet black, the colour extending on to the sides of 

 the neck; a large loral spot; cheeks, part of sides of neck, chin, throat, 

 and rest of under surface pure white, slightly tinged with silvery grey 

 on the sides of the breast; flanks silvery grey. Total length 10 inches, 

 eulmen 1.3 to 1.5, wing 5.7 to 6, tail 4.5, tarsus 1.2 to 1.5. 



The following species have the same dimensions, but are local 

 races differing somewhat in coloration. 



The Silver-backed Butcher-bird, C. argenteus. — Northern Australia. Has- 

 back of a light silvery grey; the white of the upper surface more 

 extensive, and the whole of the under surface, including the flanka 

 and the sides of the breast pure white. 



