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THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
11. Black Currawong Strepera fuliginosa Gould 
fu-li'-gin-o-sa— L., fuliginosus, sooty. 
distribution. Tasmania and King Island (Bass Strait). 
notes. Also called Sooty Crow-shrike, Black Magpie, and Black Jay. 
Usually in flocks; it is bold and inquisitive and incessantly noisy. It is 
considered a pest, doing considerable damage in gardens and orchards; 
it also eats chickens and ducklings. 
nest. A large, open structure, composed of sticks; lined with rootlets 
and grass. Usually built in an upright forked branch of a tall tree. 
eggs. Two or three, purplish-buff, spotted and blotched with dull 
purplish-brown and reddish-brown shades, closer together at the larger 
end. Breeding-season: September to December. 
12. Clinking Currawong Strepera arguta Gould 
ar-gu'-ta— L., argulus, clear-voiced. 
distribution. Tasmania. 
notes. Also called Hill Crow-shrike, Mountain Magpie, and Black 
Jay. Usually in small parties during the breeding-season; congregates 
in large flocks in autumn and winter. Frequents the hilly country 
chiefly, and is the largest of the group; it derives its name from its 
call, a loud ringing series of notes “Clink, clink“, or “Kling-klang”. 
Food: insects chiefly, and native fruits and berries, 
nest. A round, deep, cup-shaped structure, composed of sticks; lined 
with fibrous roots and other fine materials. Generally placed on a 
horizontal branch of a tree at various heights from the ground. 
eggs. Usually three, varying from dull vinous-white to vinous-grey, 
streaked, spotted, or irregularly blotched with pale brown, and other 
underlying markings of bluish-grey. Breeding-season: August to 
December. 
13. Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor Latham 
ver'-si-col-or— L., versicolor , different coloured. 
distribution. Eastern and southern Australia. 
notes. Also called Grey Crow-shrike, Grey Magpie, Rain-bird, and 
Squeaker. In the breeding-season it is met with in small flocks, but 
congregates in large flocks during autumn and winter. In habits it is 
similar to the other Currawongs. Food: insects, chiefly procured on the 
ground; also native fruits and berries. 
nest. Similar in structure and size to those of the other Currawongs. 
eggs. Two or three, varying from pale buff and chocolate-brown 
to rich vinous-brown and vinous-grey, with freckles, streaks, and 
small blotches of darker shades of the ground colour. Breeding-season: 
September to December. 
