THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
glossy brown ; lower aspect of tail fawn-brown. Collected near Cairns, North 
Queensland, in November, 1911. 
Younger birds have the centre markings broader. 
Eggs. Clutch, three eggs of a greyish-green colour, with a few markings on the larger end 
of a dark brown, some markings under the surface being of brownish-purple. They 
are very similar to some specimens of the eggs of Cracticus rufescens, but smaller. 
The clutch measures 33 mm. by 25. (Northern Territory.) 
Nest . An open and rather shallow cup-shaped structure, loosely built of twigs and rootlets, 
and situated about 20 feet up from the ground. 
Eggs. In the Cairns form the eggs vary considerably in their general colouring and markings, 
also in their shape and size. A clutch of four eggs, of the most usual variety found, 
possess a greyish-green ground-colour, marked with roundish spots of umber and dull 
slate, the markings becoming more thickly crowded at the larger end. Surface of 
shell smooth and glossy. The clutch measures 33 mm. by 25. Another clutch of 
three of quite a different variety possesses a creamy ground-colour, spotted with 
umber and pale slate markings, confined chiefly to the larger end. Surface of shell 
smooth and glossy. The clutch measures 36 mm. by 25. 
Nest. A fairly large open cup-shaped structure, composed of thin sticks and twigs, and 
neatly lined inside with grass and rootlets, usually a great quantity of rootlets are 
used for the purpose. Dimensions of nest over all about 10 inches. Usually placed 
in a tall bush or tree, both in thick scrub and forest country. 
Breeding season. October to January. 
Under the name Cracticus quoyi Gould observed “ We have abundant evidence 
that the zoology and botany of New Guinea and Australia are very similar. 
In some instances the same species are found in both countries, of which fact 
the present bird is an example. M. Temminck, to whom I showed specimens 
of this bird killed in Australia, assured me that they were identical with others 
from New Guinea. The northern coast is the only portion of Australia in 
which this bird has been observed. It is tolerably abundant at Port Essington, 
where it inhabits the mangrove swamps generally, even those close to the 
settlement. Gilbert states that it is extremely shy and wary, and that the 
nature of its usual haunts precludes in a great measure all chance of getting a 
sight of it. He never met with it in any other situation than the darkest and 
thickest parts of the mangroves, where there is a great depth of mud, and where 
the roots of the trees are very thickly intertwined ; it is among these roots 
that it is constantly seen searching for crabs. Its note is short and monotonous 
and very like the name given to it by the aborigines, Mol-gol-ga, the second 
syllable being prolonged and forming the highest note ; it also utters other 
sounds, some of them resembling those of the Gymnorhina leuconota ; at other 
times it frequently emits a note very similar to the cry of young birds for food. 
The stomach is muscular, and the food consists of crabs, and occasionally 
of coleoptera, neuroptera, and the larvse of insects of various kinds.” 
Mr. J. P. Rogers' notes read : “ Melville Island. Nov. 20th, 1911. Cooper’s 
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