BLACK-WINGED CROW-SHRIKE. 
Island, in October. Their note resembles the squeaking of an ungreased 
wheelbarrow.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor has written : “ This is the only species of Strepera that I 
have seen on Kangaroo Island, and I believe that no other species exists there, 
as I have examined the island at the Eastern and Western ends and been 
also through the middle districts. While camped at Middle River on the 
north coast in Oct., 1905, they were noted to be quite tame and confiding, 
coming right up to the camp, and being most inquisitive in their habits, 
sitting on a dry tree and peering down at us with a curious sort of gaze. 
They were very energetic in searching out insects and grubs from the cracks 
and crevices of the old logs and dry trees around, and turned over quite large 
pieces of wood and bark in quest of their insect food ; they use their bills 
in the turning-over process ; sticking their beaks under a piece of wood, they 
would force it over with remarkable skill and energy ; should the piece be 
too heavy to overturn, the bird would force it up sufficiently to see sideways 
under it, and if it perceived any desirable insect food, it would persist in 
forcing until it had moved the object sideways and reached the victim ; 
should it be unable to move it in one direction the bird would hop round and 
attack it from another point until it succeeded. Spiders were much sought 
for, and as these are generally found beneath the bark of trees, to secure these 
the bird would force its tightly closed bill behind the piece of dry bark and 
then open its bill, prising the piece off by sheer force ; the bill is large and 
powerful and it is surprising the great strength the bird has and the size of 
the pieces of bark it breaks off. The flight is a series of long undulating 
motions by which it travels at a great speed, and when frightened it will often 
go for miles before alighting again. Its notes are extremely loud and clear, 
ringing out in the crisp air for miles ; 4 kling, kling, kling ’ are the notes it 
utters, the ending 4 g ’ being somewhat drawn out in a ringing manner and 
sounding like hitting an anvil three times in succession ; this is always uttered 
while the bird is on the wing. I have noted them at Cape Borda on the 
extreme western end and at Hog Bay on the extreme east ; at the latter 
place I observed them feeding on the berries of the white currant bush that 
grows on the sand dunes near the sea. I saw these birds on the mainland 
of South Australia at Willunga ; this opposite the eastern end of Kangaroo 
Island, but, strange to say, on the mainland off the western end of the island 
they do not occur, but 4 8. fusca ’ takes the place. The nesting time is from 
September to November.” 
A. G. Campbell wrote of the Kangaroo Island form : 44 Many of this 
species were nesting in the sugar-gum forests that exist within three miles 
of the coast, and a few pairs also were noted inland in the spongy-bark gums 
415 
