172 XESrS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



143. — Malurus splendens, Quoy and Gaimard. — (188) 

 BANDED WEEN. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii,, pi. 21 



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



Previous Descriptions ofEggs.—Go\i\d: Birds of Australia (1848). also 

 Handbook, vol. i., p. 324 (1865). 



Geographical Distribution. — South and West Australia. 



Ne.H. — Oval, covered, with side-top entrance ; composed of soft grasses 

 and flowering portions and leaves of plants, in some instances not alto- 

 gether compactly built ; lined inside wth Zamia (Cycad) " wool " and 

 feathers or fine soft grasses. Usually situated near the ground in thick 

 low scrub. External dimensions, 5 inches in length by 2A inches in 

 breadth ; entrance, about 1 inch across. 



Effgs. — Clutch, three to four ; inclined to oval in shape ; texture of 

 shell very fine ; sirrface sUghtly glossy ; colour, pinkish-white, freckled and 

 spotted all over, but thickest on the apex, with rich reddish-brown ; 

 occasionally an example in a set has the markings nearly obsolete. 

 Dimensions in inches of a proper clutch : (1) -67 x -49, (2) -67 x -49, 

 (3) -66 X -48. Most resemble those of the eastern Blue Wren (M. cyaneus). 



Observations. — This lovely Wren, with exquisite blue plumage, enjoys 

 chiefly a western habitat^ but has been found in the interior of South 

 Australia. 



These resjalendent little " Blue Birds," as the Westralians call them, 

 are among the most pleasant of my West Australian recollections. The 

 first bu'd that fell to my gun on landing in that territory was a Banded 

 Superb Warbler or Wren wliich I obtained near Albany. Then, on the shores 

 of Geographe Bay it was with mixed astonishment and delight I witnessed 

 the lovely blue-dressed birds disporting themselves upon the beach and 

 fossicking amongst the cast-up alg« and corallines. They scattered over 

 the sandy ridges into a thick, short acacia scmb, whither I and a local 

 bush acquaintance followed them in the hopes of finding a nest or two. 

 Just entering the scnib, a hen-bird darted out of a bush containing the 

 dome-shaped, grass-made home, lined with fine bark and sea-weed, but, 

 alas ! it was occupied with blind, yellow-gaped squabs, instead of with 

 pearly, red-speckled eggs. When the sun had far sloped his " western 

 wheel," throwing his glowing gleams upon the bright-green acacias, where 

 famihes of the Superb Wrens were poiuing forth with all their souls their 

 little spirited songs, it was a perfect picture now and then to see a pretty 

 cerulean form flash hke a diadem upon a verdant bush, and I am afraid 

 to state how often they proved tempting marks for a small charge of 

 dust shot. 



