STIPITURUS. 



243 



Adult femalb — Resembles the male, but lias the head asliy-brown, and broadly streaked with 

 black like the hind- neck and mantle; and the narrow line of feathers over the eye, and the chin, 

 throat, and fore-neck is ochmceons-broivn instead of liglit blue. 



Distribution — South-eastern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, 

 Western Australia, Tasmania. 



^^HE present species is widely distributed throughout the coastal districts of the south- 

 eastern and southern portions of the Australian continent; it is likewise found in 

 Tasmania. It was originally described from specimens obtained near Sydney, and it is still 

 numerous in the neighbourhood of the city. Specimens obtained from different parts of south- 

 eastern Australia, and I^adger Head, Tasmania, are alike in colour, but adult males from King 

 George's Sound have the rufous crown slightly darker, and it extends further back on to the 



nape; in two examples the black streaks to the 

 feathers extend on to the forehead, and the tail 

 feathers are longer. The wing-measurement of 

 eastern and western birds varies from I'b to i"]^ 

 inches, and the central tail feathers from 4-2 to 

 5 inches. 



It is a resident species in New South Wales, 

 and is common in all favourable situations in 

 the coastal districts. Near Sydney it may be 

 met with in the Centennial Park, and in the 

 swamps and heatii lands about Randwick, 

 Botany, and La Perouse. It is, however, more 

 freely distributed around the low-lying shores 

 of iManly Lagoon and Narrabeen Lagoon, 

 particularly where it is overgrown with clumps 

 of long rushes and grass tussocks. Several 

 examples of both sexes were obtained during 

 visits to these localities in company w'ith Mr. 

 J. A. Thorpe. It is a difficult species to shoot, 

 for although it may rise up close to your feet, it 

 quickly drops into cover again. Many specimens, 

 too, are spoilt by having one or more of the 

 delicate and lengthened tail feathers cut off, 

 especially when the bird is shot at from a short 

 range. In the late autumn and winter months they are usually associated in small flocks, 

 probably a pair of adults accompanied by their young. They are seldom flushed from the 

 same clump or tussock in which they have sought refuge, for directly they have reached 

 cover with their low squeaking call note they rapidly thread their way through or around 

 the clumps, and congregate together again. Just prior to taking flight, one will frequently 

 run up to the top of one of the tallest rushes or grass stems in the clump, and immediately 

 fly off accompanied by its companions. During the breeding season I have, as a rule, met 

 with the Emu W'ren frequenting chiefly the stunted undergrowth on heath lands and sandy 

 wastes, and sometimes far removed from water. In these situations, owing to their short 

 and rounded wings, and necessarily poor powers of flight, they are easily driven to take the 

 shelter of any low bush, but it is most difficult to discover them in the place where they have 

 sought refuge. I have never found the nest, but have had many exciting chases after young 

 birds although \ery few captures, owing to the manner in which they can conceal themselves 

 in even the smallest bush. 



EMU WREN. 



