PLATE II. 



GENUS CRACTICUS (Vieillot). 



■jWERY part of Australia is inhabited by at least one member of this genus. The different species 

 of this genus and of the Gymnohince are very generally confused with one another, aud go by the 

 broad appellation of " Magpie." 



CRACTICUS NIGBOGULARIS (Gould). 



BLACK-THROATED CROW-SHRIKE. 



npHE present species is an inhabitant of New South Wales and Victoria, frequenting principally open 

 plains studded with large trees. 



It is both arboreal and terrestrial in habits, resorting to the ground principally to obtain food, 

 which consists both of the larger kinds of insects, and of mice and small birds. It associates usually in 

 pairs, but sometimes in small groups of three or four, probably the offspring of one pair. 



During the breeding season it is very fierce, and will fly down and peck at the heads of persons 

 passing beneath the nest. A pair may often also be seen driving away a hawk, flying round, and now 

 and then making a dart at him, and then eluding his claws with great agility. It is also a deadly enemy 

 of all kinds of snakes. 



It breeds from August to January, building a rather large nest of sticks and fine roots, which 

 is placed on one of the lower branches of a high tree. The eggs are one inch and a-quarter long, and 

 almost an inch broad. In colour they are dark buff, spotted with very dark brown, and sometimes with 

 black, Two broods are reared in the season. 



When in captivity this bird becomes very tame, and may be taught to whistle and talk, and very 

 often becomes especially proficient in the use of profane language. 



The sexes do not differ in the colouring of their plumage. 



The head, neck and chest are black ; the tail black, tipped with white ; the back of the neck, 

 shoulders, eentre and edge of the wings, rump, and abdomen are white ; the rest of the wing, black ; 

 hides, blackish-brown ; bill, black ; legs and feet, blackish-brown 



Habitat : New South Wales and Victoria. 



