PLATE !XL XXY 



GENUS CORCORAX (Lesson). 



ONLY one species is known of this purely Australian genus, which possesses many very peculiar 

 characteristics. 



CORCORAX MELANORHAMPHUS. 



WHITE- WINGED CORCORAX. 



THIS very singular bird inhabits New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, and also some 

 parts of Queensland. It is generally found in groups of from six to ten, in open forest country, 

 but during the breeding season frequents the neighbourhood of lagoons and creeks. 



It is usually seen on the ground, its powers of flight being seldom used except to enable it to 

 reach one of the low branches of a tree. It is remarkably tame, allowing an observer to come very 

 close, and then merely flying off to the nearest tree, where it passes from branch to branch with great 

 swiftness, spreading out its tail, and at the same time moving it up and down, thus making a very 

 peculiar picture. 



Generally its note is soft and melodious, but when disturbed it utters a harsh and unpleasant cry, 

 as if to express its disapproval of the intrusion. 



It is very amusing to watch the actions of the male during the pairing season. He perches on 

 a branch, and, as if to show himself to the greatest advantage before the female, spreads out his wings 

 and tail and puffs out his feathers. 



The breeding season begins in August, and extends over the three following months. The nest, 

 a structure composed of mud and straw, contains from four to seven eggs, the average length of which is 

 one inch and a half, and the breadth one inch and one line. In colour they are yellowish-white, with 

 large blotches of olive and brown. 



Another strange thing about this bird is that apparently several females deposit their eggs in 

 the same nest, since on trees where there is only one nest, four or five birds are seen. This, however, 

 is as yet only conjecture. 



The whole of the plumage is black, glossed with green, with the exception of the inner webs 

 of the primaries, which are white for three parts of the length ; irides, scarlet ; bill and feet, black. 



Habitats : New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. 



