62 Proceedings of tlte Royal Society of Victoria. 



August, but the moult of blues takes place months before this, 

 and the blues ai'e in fresh supply again by the end of May and 

 later (when birds are assuming blues in spring). 



Mr. North quotes records given him by Mr. Geo. Masters and 

 Mr. Geo. Barnard, with which I quite agree, but a reference to 

 the skins as under will clearly show that the remarks of these 

 gentlemen are not definite enough, for "winter" only is mentioned. 

 Mr. North quotes facts and opinions of Mr. K. H. Bennett on 

 the Maluri, and had this gentleman gone further in his research 

 he would, in my opinion, have discovered the true state of affairs. 

 Mr. North also quotes the opinion of Dr. Ramsay, that, in the 

 section of the genus in which the blue predominates, the males 

 having once attained their full adult plumage always retain it ; 

 but does not feel quite so certain about the members of the red- 

 backed species. 



Mr. J. R. McClyraont^ also takes exception to Mr. Gould's 

 " blue-birds " not being seen in winter, and here this gentlemen 

 also stays his hand. 



Mr. F. G. Aflalo writes- of the Maluri, which he has watched 

 throughout the winter months in the Sydney gardens, as only 

 attaining the bright plumage during breeding season. 



The late Mr. Diggles in his " Ornithology of Australia," 

 speaks of the male of M. longicaudns (goi/Idii), losing its bright 

 plumage during the winter months. This, again, is only partly 

 true, and I am not quite sure he knew the species, as both figure 

 and letterpress are incorrect as regards the most important point, 

 the blue — reversed in M. cyaneiis, plate 27. 



Mr. Belcher, in the " Geelong Naturalist," writes : — " Mr. 

 Mulder has proved that the male does not attain its full plumage 

 till the second or third year. Male birds of immature plumage 

 have been found breeding."* I will at once comment upon this. 

 I understand the maturity referred to, to mean full blues on head, 

 mantle and cheeks. If the male takes 2 — 3 years to attain its 

 conspicuous plumage, why does it drop the same on the fourth 

 and each succeeding year ? I say the fourth and each succeeding 



1 Roy. Soc. Tas., 1887, p. 111. 



2 A !!ketch of the Natural History of Australia, p. 136. 



8 Mr. J. F. Mulder communicates to me, 18/4/99, his doubt of the verity of this 

 previous statement, but susrKcsts no alteration. 



