| 83. Strepera graculina | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 42. |
| 84. Strepera fuliginosa, Gould | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 43. |
| 85. Strepera Arguta, Gould | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 44. |
| 86. Strepera Anaphonensis | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 45. |
- Corvus versicolor, Lath.?
| 87. Strepera melanoptera, Gould. |
- Strepera melanoptera, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIV. p. 20.
All the upper surface, wings, and tail black; under surface brownish black, tinged with grey on the abdomen; under tail-coverts and tips of all but the two centre tail-feathers white; irides yellow; bill and feet black.
Total length, 19 inches; bill, 2; wings, 11; tail, 9; tarsi, 2⅝.
This species inhabits South Australia, and is distinguished from all its congeners by the total absence of any white mark on the wings; in other respects it is so similar to S. Arguta, that I have not considered it necessary to give a figure of it.
Genus Gymnorhina, G. R. Gray.
Like Strepera this is strictly an Australian form, all the species of which frequent exclusively the southern parts of the country. Their structure is a mere modification of that of the members of the last genus adapted to a somewhat different mode of life and habits. They are more pastoral than the Streperæ, frequenting as they do the open plains and grassy downs, over which they run or rather hop with great facility. Their chief food consists of grasshoppers and other insects, to which berries and fruits are added, when such kinds of food are procurable. If unmolested in their natural haunts they may be considered a more familiar race than the Streperæ, but if persecuted they become extremely shy and distrustful. Few birds are more ornamental, or give a more animated appearance to the country than the members of this genus, either when running over the surface of the lawn-like ground, or when pouring forth their singular choral-like notes while perched together on the bare branches of a fallen Eucalyptus. The form and situation of the nest is the same as those of the Streperæ, larger, but not unlike that of the European Crow.
Specimens of this form from Western Australia exhibit some trifling differences, but I have not as yet been able to satisfy myself whether they are or are not distinct.