BLACK-FACED CUCKOO-SHRIKE. 
motionless and quiet, and no one would know of their presence. The bird 
mostly frequents the tree-tops and seldom comes to the ground, passing most 
of its life searching the boughs for food at an elevation of about a hundred feet, 
and building its nest frequently at that height also. In the fruit season the bird 
is destructive to soft pulpy fruit, and it is extremely wary in its operations. 
One bird will watch whilst the others are at work, and on the approach of the 
orchardist an alarm-note is given and the birds escape. The nest is a most 
primitive structure. It is built of a few twigs and spiders’ cocoons, is always 
placed on a horizontal limb at the fork, and is just large enough to hold the two 
or three eggs which are laid. When the young are hatched there is room for 
one only in the nest. The other or others have to sit on the edge of the nest or 
on the limb. When nearing the nest the old parents dart furiously at the 
intruder and create no little noise with their bill -snapping.” 
Writing from Tasmania, Mr. Frank Littler has sent me the following note : 
“ During the greater portion of the year this species is distributed throughout 
Tasmania. During the breeding-season (October to December) it generally 
goes in pairs ; at other times in small flocks of six or eight. Large flocks of 
twenty and upwards are only to be seen dining the winter months and then 
more particularly about the north-west corner of the island. It is much 
tamer in the winter. Its food consists of insects of every description, which 
it captures either in the air or by searching in the leaves and rubbish on the 
ground. This bird has no song, but has a variety of notes, which are used 
on different occasions ; the most notable is a loud, shrill, .and somewhat harsh 
alarm-note. The notes uttered during the breeding-season are soft and some- 
what sweet. They vary greatly, sometimes resembling a cooing sound. 
When on the wing, soft, whirring kind of notes are uttered. The flight of 
this bird is very distinct, flying in an undulating line of regular waves ; as 
it reaches the top of each wave the wings are folded against the body, when 
it reaches the lower part of the wave it smartly beats the air again. It is not 
a strong flyer, but at times it may be called rapid.” 
Mr. H. S. Dove, from West Devonport, Tasmania, wrote me under date 
May 10th, 1909 : “ On Saturday, the 8th, I was surprised to see a flock of 
about thirty of these birds pass over the town, heading away to the north- 
west ; wind was light from south-east and sky overcast, with occasional 
sunny gleams. It is very unusual to see so many Graucali together so late 
in the season, although one or two generally remain the winter with us ; it 
is not definitely known where they go to winter, although the east coast of 
Tasmania is spoken of by some naturalists. The flock just noted was going 
fast in a definite direction as if migrating, and I have seen similar parties, 
coming from the north-west in spring (September) and have wondered if 
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