54 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
11. Black Currawong Strep era fuliginosa Gould 
fu-li -gin-o -sa — L., fuliginosus, sooty. 
Distribution . — Tasmania and King Island (Bass Strait). 
Notes. — Also called Sooty Crow-shrike, Black Magpie, and Black Jay. 
Usually in flocks; it is bold and inquisitive and incessantly noisy. It is 
considered a pest, doing considerable damage in gardens and orchards; 
it also eats chickens and ducklings. 
Nest. — A large, open structure, composed of sticks; lined with root- 
lets and grass. Usually built in an upright forked branch of a tall tree. 
Eggs. — Two or three, purplish-buff, spotted and blotched with dull 
purplish-brown and reddish-brown shades, closer together at the larger 
end. Breeding-season : September to December. 
12. Clinking Currawong Strepera arguta Gould 
ar-gu-ta — L., argutus, clear-voiced. 
Distribution. — Tasmania. 
Notes. — Also called Hill Crow-shrike, Mountain Magpie, and Black 
Jay. Usually in small parties during the breeding-season; congregates in 
large flocks in autumn and winter. Frequents the hilly country chiefly, 
and is the largest of the group; it derives its name from its call, a loud 
ringing series of notes ‘‘Clink, clink,” or “Kling-klang.” Food: insects 
chiefly, and native fruits and berries. 
Nest . — A round, deep, cup-shaped structure, composed of sticks; lined 
with fibrous roots and other fine materials. Generally placed on a horizon- 
tal branch of a tree at various heights from the ground. 
Eggs. — Usually three, varying from dull vinous-white to vinous-grey, 
streaked, spotted, or irregularly blotched with pale brown, and other 
underlying markings of bluish-grey. Breeding-season : August to 
December. 
13. Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor Latham 
ver'-si-col-or — L., versicolor, different coloured. 
Distribution. — Eastern and southern Australia. 
Notes— Also called Grey Crow-shrike, Grey Magpie, Rain-bird, and 
Squeaker. In the breeding-season it is met with in small flocks, but con- 
gregates in large flocks during autumn and winter. In habits it is similar 
to the other Currawongs. Food : insects, chiefly procured on the ground ; 
also native fruits and berries. 
Nest. — Similar in structure and size to those of the other Curra- 
wongs. 
Eggs. Two or three, varying from pale buff and chocolate-brown 
to rich vinous-brown and vinous-grey, with freckles, streaks, and small 
blotches of darker shades of the ground colour. Breeding-season : Sep- 
tember to December. 
