THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
near the river courses. All had young in various stages. One pair near 
our camp was photographed feeding their young at the nest. A very cold 
night killed these nestlings, when the parents immediately turned their 
attention to another young bird brought in by one of the party. They fed 
it regularly within a short distance of our quarters. The nestling has the 
primaries and particularly the secondary feathers of the wing tipped white, 
but the adult has the whole wing entirely black.” 
Hall’s record of S. melanoptem from Eyre’s Peninsula: “Back blackish, 
not greyish or plumbeous ; between melanoptem and plumbea in colour,” 
probably refers to the form named “ fusca, i.e., intermedia Sharpe.” 
Ashby recorded from Schwetze’s Landing, River Murray, South Australia : 
“ A specimen of S. melanoptem (evidently this year’s bird) shot showed a 
very distinct white patch on the wings, common to the allied species. Strepem 
fusca. It is possible that these mallee birds are intermediate between the two 
forms.” 
Howe has written : “ On the drive out from Pinnaroo (Victorian Mallee) 
we saw great numbers of the Black- winged Crow-Shrike ( Strepera melanoptem) 
— one lot of about 70 — and secured a bird for identification. The feet and 
bill were black and the irides were bright orange. The bird measured about 
18 inches in length. We found them nesting in the mallee. And later : 
“ Fairly well distributed from Tailem Bend to Kow Plains. Often flushed 
from the ground in the short mallee. Several nests containing young.” 
Wilson added : “ This splendid bird was not often encountered, and 
its timidity rendered it extremely difficult to approach ” ; while Chandler’s 
notes read : “ This bird, although well distributed, was not common. It is 
very shy, though there are exceptions to the rule. We often disturbed a 
bird feeding on the ground in thick mallee. It would rise hurriedly and fly 
away, uttering its musical notes. Nests containing eggs, and in various 
stages of building were found. The height from the nest from the ground 
varied from 15 feet to 35 feet.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor, visiting Kangaroo Island, wrote : “ From a neighbouring 
scrub came the loud ringing call ‘ Cling-cling-cling ’ of the Black-winged 
Crow- Shrike ( Strepera melanoptem). I was able to get a good view of them, 
one coming close to me, and perching on a dry limb of a tree, where it called 
to its mate in the scrub a few hundred yards away.” 
Captain S. A. White has recorded of the Kangaroo Island Crow-Shrike : 
“ They were in pairs and very shy, showing the greatest cunning in keeping 
out of our way. The loud and clear note went echoing up the deep ravine 
through which the river passed. The habits of this bird seemed to resemble 
those of other members of the genus. They hunted among the leaves and 
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