MAGPIE-LARK. 
through central Australia. X did not meet with it in the Far North-west 
owing to the dryness of the country, but all along the larger rivers which have 
large water holes, many months after they have ceased running, these charming 
birds are to be found, and their strange cup-shaped mud nests are to be seen 
on the gum boughs. The Magpie-Lark is a very useful bird, destroying great 
quantities of noxious insect life. They often renovate the previous season’s 
nest and lay in it ; the eggs vary much in coloration and number from three 
to four to the clutch. The nest is invariably placed on a horizontal limb 
over water. The young take on their pied plumage in the nest. In the 
autumn these birds congregate in large flocks up to a hundred and are to be 
seen moving from one locality to another. Their flight is soft but erratic.” 
Mr. E. Ashby’s notes read : “ Common in South. Australia, Victoria and 
New South Wales wherever there is swampy country or dampish open forest. 
Their circular mud nests are often placed in boughs of lofty gums overhanging 
water holes or dams. While the places chosen are very exposed the boughs 
selected are usually inaccessible. The bird has a peculiar bobbing forward 
motion when walking about searching for food. It does not hop nor run, 
but walk. It feeds on the ground in damp meadows like Starlings.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor notes : “I have seen this bird in all the States I have 
yet visited except Tasmania. It is to be found along the rivers and about 
the lakes and lagoons and swampy localities, but does not frequent the dry 
interior as its food consists of various insects, grubs, worms, etc., generally 
of an aquatic nature. The bird can often be seen wading about in several 
inches of water or running along the muddy water’s edge in search of its food, 
ever and anon probing its bill into the soft mud for some tit-bit.” 
Mr. E. J. Christian has sent me : “ This extremely graceful ‘ wader ’ 
is found practically in every State excepting Tasmania. He is one of our 
most invaluable birds and is rightly protected the whole year through. He 
is the bushman’s friend, especially in the drier parts of the interior, for the 
traveller knows that if he sees one of these birds water is not far off. I believe 
that the aboriginals hold also this bird in great respect on the same account. 
Wherever water is lying about there will you see this pretty little black and 
white bird with its long legs. In flight it is very ungainly and heavy looking. 
Its chief value to the sheep owner is that in our marshier districts such as the 
‘ Western District ’ it preys on water molluscs which harbour ‘ fluke.’ On 
the plains in the south there is a lot of more or less swampy ground and if it 
were not for this useful bird sheep breeders would have a very bad time of 
it. On these northern plains ‘ fluke ’ is very rare, but still this bird patrols 
every pool and clears away the molluscs. Every watercourse as long as it 
has timber has its pair of ‘ Peewits ’ as they are commonly called. It is a very 
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