Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1911 — A Queer Australian Bird. [ARTICLE]

A Queer Australian Bird.

In Australia lives a member of the crow family called the white winged chough, which builds a mud nest in trees. Its arched and pointed beak is longer than its head, and its tail is rounded. Although the choughs which build mud nests live only in Australia, yet other birds of the same name are found on the British seacoasts, living among high cliffs. Thq bird has many traits of its cousin, the crow. It is easily tamed, extremely curious and pilfers as crows do. Its long hawklike claws enable it to cling easily’ to tree or rock, but it seems unwilling ever to set foot on the turf. It lives in societies like rooks and feeds •n insects, berries and grain.