l^O NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Nest. — The usual forai, somewhat loosely constructed, with the top- 

 side entrance not well defined ; composed of soft bark and wool ; Uned 

 inside with gi-ass and wool. Usually situated about a foot from the 

 groimd in a low bush, bnisli fence, (Src. 



Egys. — Clutch, three to four ; oval in shape, or more compressed at one 

 end ; texture of shell fine ; sm-face glossy ; colour, warm or pinkish-white, 

 fairly and rather boldly blotched and spotted, thickest ou the apex, 

 with pinkish-red or chestnut and purplish-brown. Dimensions in inches 

 of a proper clutch: (1) -68 x -48, (2) -68 x -47, (3) -67 x -48, (4) -64 x -48. 



Observations. — This exceedingly handsome Wren is an inhabitant of 

 the interior of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Austraha. Gould first obtained it in the timber belts of the MiuTay, 

 in South Australia, and states it is a most interesting species, inasmuch as 

 it possesses characteristics intermediate between M. cyaneus and 

 M. splendens, having the blue belly and the conspicuous pectoral band 

 of the latter, with the black back of the fonuer. 



During a visit to the Mallee (^Vinlmora) district, Victoria, in October, 

 1884, I took tlu-ee nests with three eggs each of a gaily -dressed Blue Wren 

 in the short scrub that grew on the bull-oak (Casuarina) belts which 

 interspersed the Mallee growth. I was uncertain then whether the 

 birds belonged to tliis fine species or not, being unable to secui-e one, and, 

 moreover, they, the males at all events, avoided too close an inspection 

 (I had left my gvui at home). Probably the species was the Black-backed 

 W^ren, more especially as lately (season 1898) a party consisting of 

 Dr. Charles Ryan, Mr. Charles French, junr., and my son Aixhie, were 

 collecting in the same region, and brought back birds (two males and one 

 female), together with two sets of eggs, having seen no other variety of 

 Blue Wren throughout the trip. One proud male was observed threading 

 the bushes with foiu- little females in his wake. The nest and eggs, from 

 which I have taken my descriptions, were found in a dead brush fence. — 

 Date, 14th October, 1898; locality. Pine Plains. 



It is recorded in the Austrahan Museum Catalogue that the late 

 Mr. K. H. Bennett procured several nests and eggs of the Black-backed 

 Wren in the neighbourhood of Ivanhoe and Mossgiel, in the interior of 

 New South Wales, during the months of October and November, 1885 

 and 1886. Mr. K. Broadbent also records this bird from Charleville 

 district (Queensland). 



142. — Malurus callainus, Gould. 



TURQUOISE WREN. 



Figure. — Gould; Birds of Australia, fol., supp., pi, 23. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mas., vol. iv , p. 289 



Previous Descriptions of Egg$. — Ramsay: Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S. Wales, 



vol. i.. 2nd ser., p. 11^5 (1886) ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., pi. 13, 



fig. 18 (18S9). 



Geographical Distrihution. — New South Wales (interior). South and 

 West Austraha . 



