BLACK CROW-SHRIKE. 
Adult female. Similar to the male. 
Eggs. Two to three form the clutch, and rarely four. They are not subject to much 
variation in shape, size, and colouring, as is the case with some other species of the 
genus. A clutch of three eggs taken on Flinders Island, Tasmania, on the 17th of 
November, 1909, is of a purplish-buff ground-colour, well spotted and blotched with 
dull purplish-brown and reddish-brown of various shades, becoming thickly set 
together at the larger ends. Swollen ovals in shape. Surface of shell comparatively 
smooth and glossy. The clutch measures 42-45 mm. by 30. Another clutch of 
three eggs taken at Gunn’s Lake, near Bothwell, Tasmania, on the 17th of October, 
1908, is of a pale pinkish-cream colour, well marked with spots and blotches of 
purplish-brown and reddish-brown of various shades, becoming closely set together 
at the larger ends. Swollen ovals in shape ; shell rather smooth and glossy. The 
clutch measures 42-45 mm. by l 31-32. The nest was placed 40 feet from the 
ground in a Spotted Gum. 
Nest. Is an open structure composed of sticks, and lined with rootlets and grass, etc. 
Breeding-season. September to December. 
Of this species Gould, who differentiated it, wrote : “Is a permanent 
resident in Tasmania ; its range also extends to the islands in Bass’s Straits, 
and a few individuals have been found in South Australia. The localities 
it frequents are also of a different description, those preferred being low 
swampy grounds in the neighbourhood of the sea, and woods bordering rivers. 
Like the other species of the genus, it subsists on insects and grubs of various 
kinds, to which pulpy seeds and berries are frequently added. It is very 
active on the ground, passing over the surface with great rapidity.” 
Mr. Frank Littler has written me : “ Under the name of Black Jay this 
bird is well known to most of us. Round bush habitations it becomes very 
bold and when frightened off with anything less than a gun it flies a few yards 
and returns as soon as one’s back is turned. It has been known to fly into 
one of the large baskets into which apples are packed and abstract an 
apple, the packer being close to the basket all the time. Its natural food 
consists of insects and larvae of all kinds which it finds by searching on or 
about the ground. Numbers of these birds may be seen in the bush turning 
over the leaves and rubbish hunting for grubs, etc. ; while engaged thus they 
are easily approached.” 
Mr. H. Stuart Dove wrote me : “I examined all the lists and found 
great diversity of opinion as to the range of this species, which I had concluded 
previously was confined to Tasmania and the islands of Bass Strait. Apparently 
following Gould (above quoted), Ramsay added Victoria to South Australia 
and Tasmania. Campbell omitted South Australia but allowed Victoria 
and Tasmania, while Hall noted South-east Australia and Tasmania. This 
was enlarged in your ‘ Handlist ’ into Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, 
South Australia, Tasmania and islands, which Leach condensed into East 
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