THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. 
met with, is rather roundish oval in shape ; ground-colour pale brown, spotted 
with reddish-brown and dull slate, the markings being confined chiefly to the larger 
end of each egg. A few very blackish spots are scattered here and there on each 
egg. Surface of shell smooth and rather glossy. They measure 20 mm. by 22. 
Another clutch of four has a pale greenish-grey ground-colour, spotted and speckled, 
chiefly at the larger end, with reddish-brown and dull slate. Surface of shell smooth 
and glossy. The clutch measures 29 mm. by 23. 
Nest. A rather neat, shallow cup-shaped structure, composed of dead twigs, roots, etc., 
and lined with dead grass or rootlets. Dimensions over all from 6 to 9, and some- 
times 11 inches ; it all depends on the situation of the nest. Egg cavity to 
inches across by 2 to 2| inches in depth. Usually placed in the upright forked 
branches of a tree, at heights from 10 to 40 feet or more from ground. 
Eggs. In the Tasmanian form three to four eggs form the clutch, and vary in colouring, 
shape, and size. A rather typical clutch of four has a pale greenish-grey ground- 
colour, spotted and blotched with purplish-brown and reddish-brown and confined 
chiefly to the larger end of each egg. Surface of shell smooth and glossy. The 
clutch measures 32-34 mm. by 23-25. 
Breeding season. August to January. 
Apparently the first field-note is that recorded by Vigors and Horsfield, who 
wrote : “ Air. Caley thus observes on this species : ‘ Butcher-bird. This bird 
used frequently to come into some green wattle trees near my house, and in wet 
weather was very noisy ; from which circumstance it obtained the name of 
Bain-bud. It appeared to be a solitary bird, or at least to associate only with 
its mate.’ ” 
Gould wrote : “ This bird is a permanent resident in New South Wales 
and South Australia, where it inhabits the margins of the bushy lands near the 
coast, the sides of hills, and the belts of trees which occur in the more open 
parts of the country ; in fact, I scarcely know of any bird so generally dispersed. 
Its presence is at all times betrayed by its extraordinary note, a jumble of 
discordant sounds impossible to be described. It is nearly always on the 
trees, where it sits motionless on some dead or exposed branch whence it can 
survey all around, and particularly the surface of the ground beneath, to which 
it makes perpendicular descents to secure any large insect or lizard that may 
attract its sharp and penetrating eye ; it usually returns to the same branch 
to devour what it has captured, but at times will resort to other trees and impale 
its victim after the manner of the true Shrikes ; mice, small birds and large 
Phasmice come within the list of its ordinary diet. September and the three 
following months constitute the period of incubation.” 
Captain S. A. White’s notes read : “A very widely distributed bird. They 
were very rare in the far north-west of South Australia and scarce in the Central 
regions, generally in the mulga scrubs. They are rather numerous in some of 
the Mallee scrubs and are found along the coast line. They possess a most 
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