BLACK-BACKED MAGPIE. 
Whitlock has written “ G. longirostris is the Magpie of the Coongan. It 
was seldom I found it far from the ranges, though it also occurs too on the 
de Grey. I found one nest containing young, and saw other young birds in 
captivity in the latter locality. This species and Cracticus picatus (sic) are the 
birds to herald daybreak. At the first signs of dawn their rich, flute-like notes 
may be heard from the summit of some steep hill or other point of vantage 
in these rugged ranges. Indeed, I have several times heard both species break 
into song on moonlight nights. It can hardly be called a common bird, but 
where it occurs it is not likely to be overlooked. It is a significant fact that 
I did not find a single nest near the main river. All were in the secluded gullies 
of the ranges, or in stunted gums growing but a short distance from the foot 
thereof. G. dorsalis. I must confess to my not being up-to-date in my know- 
ledge of the distinctions separating the Magpies of the Eastern states from 
our local birds. For all that, I am well acquainted with the general appearance 
and habits of the latter. Judge of my surprise when I shot an unmistakable 
example of the White-backed Magpie. It is perhaps worthy of remark that 
this specimen was procured on a huge spinifex flat quite clear of the ranges. 
It was the only one I saw.” 
Gould was so suspicious of confusing geographical “ species ” which are 
now termed “ subspecies ” that with regard to G. tibicen he wrote : “ This 
species is universally diffused over the colony of New South Wales, to which 
part of the Australian continent I believe it to be confined. It is true that 
a bird of this genus inhabits the neighbourhood of Swan River, whose size 
and style of plumage are very similar, but which I have little doubt will prove 
to be distinct ; I shall therefore consider the habitat of the present bird to 
be restricted to New South Wales until I have further proofs to the contrary.” 
He otherwise modified this by writing : “ Specimens of this form ( Gymnorhina 
in toto) from Western Australia exhibit some trifling differences, but I have 
not as yet been able to satisfy myself whether they are or are not distinct.” 
Half a century elapsed before the differences were defined and then both 
the Western species represented were considered as distinct species. Campbell 
named the Western White-backed Magpie and Milligan the Western Black- 
backed Magpie. The latter is the one I am now writing about, and Milligan’s 
points of distinction read : “ (a) The Western bird is longer ; (b) its bill is 
longer, more narrow, less arched, and more triangular shaped ; (c) its tail 
is shorter ; ( d ) its tarsi are shorter ; and ( e ) the thigh feathers are not black, 
but wholly white for the upper portion, and noticeably so for the lower. In 
addition, the plumage generally does not present the striking and decided 
contrasts of glossy bluish-black and snowy white that mark the Eastern 
forms.” The above grounds for separation were distinctly feeble, as Milligan 
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