i 
The Black-thkoated Gkow Shrike. BIRDS. Quoy’s Crow Shrike. 34B 
i 
exhibits much familiarity, often approaching the dwell- 
THE AUSTRALIAN BUTCHER-BIRD {Cracticus de- 
mgs of man. The food of this and the other species 
structar), another of the Crow-shrikes, is an inhabitant 
consists of insects and their larvae, which they gene- 
of New South Wales and South Australia, throughout 
rally capture upon the hi-anches, rarely descending to 
which it is very generally distributed, haunting both 
the ground in search of prey, and then carrying it up 
the brushes and the belts of trees in the open countiy. 
into the bushes to devour it. 
It is seen sitting motionless upon the trees, watching 
THE GONOLEK {Laniarius harharus). — TheGonoleks 
all that goes on around it, but especially keeping a 
[ 
of Le Vaillant form an exclusively African genus, which 
sharp eye upon the ground beneath, ready to pounce 
agrees with the preceding South American forms in the 
down in a moment upon any large insect or small 
slenderness and straightness of the hill. The present 
lizard that may make its appearance there; it also feeds 
species is about the size of the Eed-hacked Shrike ; it 
upon small birds and mice, and is observed to impale 
is black above and reddish beneath, with the crown of 
or suspend its victims in the same way as the common 
the head, the vent, and thighs, tawny yellow. In its 
Shrikes of Europe. In its habits it is usually a shy and 
habits this species, like its congeners, resembles the 
retiring bird, but constantly reveals its presence in the 
1 
Thamnophili, living concealed amongst the bushes, and 
neighbourhood by its curious note, which, Mr. Gould 
feeding upon insects and their larvae. 
tells us, is “ a jumble of discordant sounds impossible 
THE BLACK-THROATED CROW SHRIKE {Cracticus 
to be described.” The nest resembles that of the pre- 
nigrogularis). — The Grow Shrikes or Cractici are pecu- 
ceding species. 
liar to Australia and the islands of the Pacific, where 
The length of this Butcher-bird is about eleven 
they take the place of our common shrikes. Tlie pre- 
inches. The head and back of the neck are black ; 
sent species is found only in New Sonth Wales, where 
the upper surface is dark grayish-brown, becoming 
it inhabits the rich districts known as apple-tree flats. 
blackish on the wings and tail ; the middle secondaries 
and undulating countries with scattered large trees. 
have their outer margins white, forming a white 
It is usually seen in pairs, and haunts the lower 
streak when the wing is closed; the tail feathers, 
branches of the trees, from which it not unfrequently 
except the two middle ones, are tipped with white on 
descends to the ground in pursuit of its prey, consisting 
their inner webs ; the plumage of the lower surface is 
of insects, small lizards, and mice. It also kills and 
grayish-white, and an irregular band of white passes 
devours small birds. The nest of this species is rather 
up nearly to the nape of the neck ; the bill is lead 
large, and resembles that of the common jay of Europe; 
colour with the tip black, and the feet are blackish. 
it is composed of sticks, lined with flne flbrous roots. 
QUOY’S CROW SHRIKE {Cracticus Quoyii), a large 
and is generally placed on a horizontal branch, where 
and handsome species of this genus, occurs both in 
! 
it is concealed by the thick foliage. The eggs ai'e 
New Guinea and on the opposite northerti coast of 
yeUowish-brown, with darker spots. 
Australia. It measures nearly fifteen inches in length. 
i 
From its size and elegantly pied plumage, this bird 
including the long bill, which is about two inches. 
is a conspicuous object upon the trees which it fre- 
The whole of the plumage is glossy black, with the 
quents. The total length of the male is rather more 
edges of all the feathers shining green ; the bill is 
than twelve inches; he is a little larger than the female. 
usually gray, with the tip black, and the feet are black. 
In both sexes the head, neck, and chest are black ; the 
This fine bird is very shy and wary in its disposition. 
back and wings are also black, the latter with the 
iidiahiting the thickest and darkest parts of the man- 
centre, the shoulder, and the basal part of the outer 
grove swamps, searching for crabs, which constitute a 
edge white ; the lower part of the neck, the rump, and 
great portion of its food, upon the deep mud amongst the 
the whole lower surface is white ; and the tail is black. 
roots of the trees. It also feeds occasionally upon insects. 
with the tips of all the feathers, except the two middle 
With the Crow Shrikes we close the series of 
ones, white. The feet are black, and the hill lead 
Dentirostral birds. The next division, that of the 
colour, with the tip black. 
Conirostres, commences with the great family of the 
THE PIED CROW SHRIKE {Cracticus picatus) closely 
Crows, in which we include some Australian species 
resembles the preceding in the distribution of its colours. 
presenting a considerable resemblance to the Crow 
! 
hut is a smaller bird, measuring only eleven inches in 
Shrikes; so close, indeed, is the analogy existing 
length. It is found at Port-Essington in considerable 
between them, that by some ornithologists, they are 
abundance. 
considered as forming a single group. 
i 
Tribe IV.— CONIEOSTEES. 
In the birds of this group — which may he regarded 
section, the edges of the upper mandible are notched 
as including the types of the Passeres, and perhaps also 
near the extremity, and the tip itself is slightly hooked. 
the types of the class of birds in general — the bill is 
The food of the majority of the species of this group. 
usually of a distinctly conical form, although it varies 
especially those with straight and stout conical bills, 
a good deal in length and thickness, and is sometimes 
consists principally of seeds, for breaking which this 
more or less curved. The tip of the upper mandible 
form of bill is peculiarly adapted. There are, however. 
is generally straight, and its margin unarmed ; but in 
few, if any of these birds, which do not live partially 
some of the forms most nearly allied to the preceding 
upon animal food, such as insects and their larvaj, whilst 
