THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
the trees, was extremely quick and restless, leaping from branch to branch in 
rapid succession, at the same time throwing up and expanding the tail and 
wings, these actions being generally accompanied with a harsh, unpleasant 
note; their manners, in fact, closely resembling those of the white-\vinged 
Gorcorax and the Pomatorhini. The food, as ascertained by dissection, is 
insects; the stomachs of those examined were tolerably hard and muscular, 
and contained the remains of coleoptera.” 
Mr. T. P. Austin has written me from Cobbora, New South Wales: “A 
very common bird throughout this district, in fact this is part of the true home 
of this species, although they usually keep to one class of country, seldom to 
be met with far away from where native pines are growing, and they do not 
as a rule enter far into the thicker scrub, preferring the more open forest country. 
Usually it is seen feeding upon the ground in small flocks of from six to about 
two dozen, which, when disturbed, fly to the lower branches of a tree close by, 
uttering their harsh, grating cries, and gradually proceed to the higher branches 
in a series of leaps, uttering a short, peculiar, squeaky note the while; when 
they reach the higher branches, they often cluster together on the same branch, 
perched side by side; in fact, they appear to cuddle up together as close as they 
possibly can. Once in the trees, they are not, as a rule, shy; in fact, they appear 
to be quite the reverse, and often quite inquisitive. Flocks which have taken up 
their abode about camps and dwellings become extremely tame and famihar. 
At the present time a flock of twenty-four live about my house, roosting in 
some pepper trees in the fowl-yard, but they are becoming rather a nuisance, 
as they eat most of the chickens’ food, shovdng little fear; they come almost 
to one’s feet to feed, and as they seem to have discovered the strawberries in the 
garden, which are not nearly ripe, I am beginning to fear this flock wiU have 
to be destroyed. About eighteen years ago I had to annihilate a flock which 
frequented my garden; they destroyed all vegetable plants as soon as they 
showed above the ground, especially peas and beans. I can never understand 
why all authors describing this bird, state that it has pearly-white eyes. I 
have lived practically amongst these birds for over twenty years and have 
never seen a single bird with white eyes, and I have often gone out purposely 
with field-glasses, and searched flock after flock. They certainly do not have 
white eyes in these parts. They breed here, usually placing their nests in pine 
trees, and often using the same nest more than one season, and they have a 
habit of sitting upon nests long before an egg is laid. They usually lay four 
eggs for a sitting, but I have found as many as nine and have taken their eggs 
from September 5th up till November 5th.” 
Le Souef has described eggs taken in the Port Darwin District as being 
smaller than those from the south. Is this record reliable ? 
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