THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. 
Mr. E. J. Christian’s notes read : “ This species is found all over Australia 
and Tasmania, but the bird inhabiting the latter island is smaller. The birds 
go away north for the winter, and return to this part either in September or 
October and generally remain until about March or sometimes early in April. 
It is a tree-loving bird and prefers to remain hidden in the thick foliage of the 
eucalyptus. I have often watched them, and they will sit on one branch for a 
long while, now and then making a peculiar note, which is repeated several times 
in succession ; this note is a harsh jarring one. The bird has long wings and 
tail, which make it look very much like a Cuckoo when flying, but its bill shows 
it to be a Shrike. It is an exceedingly useful bird, and I have seen it catching 
many insects. I think that it also eats the ants which climb the trees to get 
to the eucalyptus blossom, for I have watched them eating something off the 
boughs and also on the trunk. When a flock gets together before nesting, as 
I have frequently seen them on the River Yarra in Stredley Park (4f miles E. of 
Melbourne), there is a great commotion in the trees, and their harsh cry can be 
heard at a great distance. They look very pretty when the sun is shining on 
them. The nest is very hard to find, as it greatly resembles the bough on 
which it is placed. It is not very big, considering the size of the bird.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby writes: “ This appears to be a common species, as I have 
collected them in all the mainland States right through to Queensland. In 
the late summer a flock often comes into my garden at Blackwood and attacks 
the grapes on my vine trellis. The nest is usually placed in a fork and is 
exceedingly small compared to the size of the bird.” 
Mr. Sandland also observes : “ A few pairs come to Balah, South Australia, 
each year, but they are never numerous.” 
Mr. F. E. Howe has written : “Is a summer visitor and makes its 
appearance here during September. They appear to live in small families for 
a few weeks, and pass their time in the tallest trees, floating gracefully from 
tree to tree. When it takes a longer flight it has a slow and undulating motion, 
and as they perch on the limbs the wings are folded and unfolded three or four 
times.” 
Mr. Tom Tregellas has written me : “ The Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike is a 
migrant in the southern parts of Victoria, going north after the nesting season 
is over and coming south in spring again. They are seldom seen in any great 
quantity, generally two or three pairs flying together and emitting their peculiar 
‘ Wark, wark ’ notes. Another peculiarity with regard to these birds is their 
method of wing folding. When alighting in a tree after a flight, the wings are 
raised and lowered several times, as if to get the proper adjustment, and there 
seems to be a difficulty in getting them properly fixed. Sometimes, when 
they settle and get properly folded up, they sit for long periods in the tops r 
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