THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
The legs are short and stout, the front of the tarsus hooted or showing 
scutes obscurely ; the toes are fairly long and stout, the claws sharp ; the 
hind-toe short, about equal to inner toe in length, but hind-claw very long, 
so that hind-toe and claw are subequal with middle toe and claw ; outer 
toe almost equal to the middle toe but the claw shorter ; inner toe shorter 
with claw only equalling middle toe alone. 
It is obvious from consideration of these superficial features that Strepera 
is very closely allied to Gymnorhina and Cr adieus and has no close relationship 
with the Corvidse ; the bill features of the latter, as regards the nostrils, widely 
separate it and this is confirmed by the leg structure, the outer side of the 
tarsus of Corvus showing a row of small scutellse between the frontal heavily 
scuted plate and the hind entire plate ; the proportion of the inner and outer 
toes is exactly the reverse in Corvus to that given above for Strepera. 
The very detailed study of the Myology of the Bell-Magpie ( Strepera ) 
and its Position in Classification by Dr. Leach ( Emu , Vol. XIV., pp. 2-38, 
pis. i.-m., 1914) proves the absolute unanimity that exists in the musculature 
of the Passeriformes, and the lack of value of the features shown by these 
birds in connection with classification. We have been continually reminded 
by superior non-ornithologists that we must be guided by the deeper seated 
characters of the myology and osteology ; in the Passeriformes there are at 
present known no deeper seated characters as regards myology. Leach very 
carefully examined the myology of Strepera, Gymnorhina, Cr adieus and Corvus 
(as represented in Australia) in minute comparison with the elaborate study 
of the Myology of the (American) Raven ( Corvus ) published by Shufeldt. 
He was unable to find any features whatever in which they differed appreciably, 
and it is interesting to note that when some minor differences were noted 
between that of the American Raven and Strepera, the Australian Raven 
generally agreed with the latter. This suggests extreme care in singling out 
any single feature for comparison. 
Leach noted that Gould was convinced of the relationship of the birds. 
In connection with the genus Strepera, Gould recorded : “ On a careful 
examination of the members of this genus, it will be perceived that their 
relationship to the Corvidae, to which they have been usually assigned, is very 
remote, their size and colour being, in fact, the only features of resemblance ; 
their whole structure and economy are indeed very different from those of 
every other known bird, except those of Gymnorhina and Craetieus, with which 
genera, in my opinion, they form a very distinct group, the natural situation 
of which is among the Laniadae or Shrikes.” 
A general account of their economy he added as follows : “ These birds 
seek their food on or near the ground, sometimes in swampy situations and 
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