28o NhSTS AXD £Cl;S OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Ohservations. — As Gould poiuts out, the Field Calamanthus, or rather 

 Wren, is a native of Southern and Western Australia, whore it inhabits 

 the open plains and scrubby lauds, such as are interspersed with tufts of 

 coarse grass. Mr. Keai-tland records ; — " Although the Field Calaman- 

 thus is generally found amongst coaa'se gi'ass, heath, and scmb, in moist 

 localities, it seems to thrive eqlially well in the diy, sandy parts of West 

 Australia. They were frequently distui-bed amongst the samphire, salt- 

 bush, and glass near the camel depot, and morning and evening enlivened 

 our camp with their songs, as, perched on some elevated spot, one would 

 poui" forth its daily carol. Several nests were foimd dimng August, two 

 of them being discovered lying on small patches of bare ground, in such 

 exposed positions as tO' convey the idea that they had been cast away by 

 some passing oologist. Mr. Chas. F. Wells found another beneath the 

 shelter of a low saltbush. All the eggs taken were of the usual coloiu" and 

 character." 



C . campcstris is much smaller than C. fuliyiiioHus, and decidedly of 

 a more rufous tint, especially on the head and basal half of the tail. 

 Comparative dimensions in inches of both species : C. campestris, length, 

 46, wing 195, tail 14, bill -45, tarsus -7; C. fuliginosus, length 5-5, 

 wing 2-37, tail 1-75, bill -45, tarsus -85. 



228. — Calam.\nthus campestris (sub-species) isabellinus. North. 

 DESERT WREN. 



Reference. — Report Horn Scientific Exp , p. S5. 

 Geugruphical Distrihution. — Central AustraUa. 

 Nest and Eggs. — Undescribcd. 



Ohservations.— The Horn Scientific Expedition to Central Australia, 

 1894, found a desert species of the Field Wren (C. campestris), for 

 which Mr. A. J. North has proposed the above sub-specific name. 



Considering the numerous names of browns at his command, I 

 venture to think Mr. North has been scai-cely complimentary to his new 

 and interesting species in the selection of the tciin isabellinus. The 

 word has a histoiy, and was fii'st used in connection with dirty hnen. 

 Isabella, Infanta of Spain, and daughter of Philip II., made a vow in 

 1601 that she would not change her linen until her husband had taken 

 Ostend. As tliat city did not fall for three years afterwards, it has 

 been suggested that at the price of much discomfort she must have saved 

 a goodly washing bill. 



Mr. T. Carter has forwarded me a skin of a Calamanthus from the 

 region of the North-west Cape which may possibly prove a new variety. 

 It most resembles C. camjjestris, but is more rufous in character of 

 colouiing. The white tail tips are absent, but there are a few wliite 

 feathers on the nape of the neck, which, however, may not be pennanent. 

 The whitish line over the eye is aJso absent. It may possibly be Mr. 



