COLLARED BUTCHER-BIRD. 
this bird are one of the commonest as well as the most pleasing of the sounds 
of the bush. Its habits and song are similar to those of the mainland form. 
“ C. leucopterus. I have noted this bird as fairly common in all parts 
of West Australia I have visited. It is more numerous than nigrogularis 
and ranges into the wet country of the south-west of that state, whereas 
I have only noted nigrogularis in the dryer parts. In all respects its habits 
and song or whistle are similar to the South Australian and Victorian birds.” 
Mr. E. J. Christian’s notes read : “ This bird is fairly well distributed 
over the states, but in Tasmania C. cinereus takes its place. C. destructor 
is popularly known by four different names, viz., Butcher-Bird, Whistling 
Jack, Collared Crow-Shrike and Derwent Jackass. C. destructor is found 
chiefly in Victoria in the marshier parts, but up here where it is very much drier 
(the average rainfall for these parts is 18 in.) the family is represented by 
G. nigrogularis. The habits of this bird are very similar to those of the former, 
and in , my opinion the former has the better voice. They are useful birds, 
devouring many beetles and mice. They are also a terror to small birds, 
and when his beautiful voice is to be heard the smaller birds in the same timber 
keep quiet. He is very fond of the Silver Eye (Z. ccerulescens), which he 
generally places in a small fork in a branch and eats it at his leisure. I have 
found C. nigrogularis to be very shy, much shyer .than C. destructor , as I have 
stood within five yards of the latter listening to him singing, while I found it 
difficult to get within twenty yards of the former. Again C. nigrogularis 
seems to sing best in the autumn while C. destructor seems to be at its best 
in spring. The notes are very loud and musical. In Tasmania I have heard 
C. cinereus singing at night time, but I have never heard either of the others 
on the mainland. In the country, canary owners have to be careful or one 
of these birds will approach the cage and catch the canary by the throat with 
his long bill, and either drag it to the wires of the cage or wedge it and take 
it piece by piece. Of course, all Butcher Birds won’t ; but if one gets very tame, 
as they will do, and stick near a house, they make good pets and are easily 
tamed. They are rather pugnacious and I remember once when a friend of 
mine climbed to a nest of Acanthiza chrysorrhoa at the end of a branch with 
young ones, a pair attacked him and I had to keep throwing sticks at them 
to keep them from hurting him.” 
Mr. Erank Littler has written me : “ The Grey Butcher-Bird is distributed 
throughout Tasmania, in some districts more plentiful than in others. It has 
a longer bill than the mainland form. Its favourite haunts are thickly timbered 
tracts, where it can find an abundance of both insect and animal life. Its 
loud discordant notes are often heard round bush dwellings. It eats large 
insects, mice and small birds. It often impales its victims on long thorns. These 
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