Malurus gouldii and Malurus cyaneus. 65 



day for weeks, and found the act took effect between l-tth Feb. 

 and 14tli Marcli in 1897 and 1898, lasting sixteen days from the 

 time the change is noticeable till the summer plumage had dis- 

 appeared iyM. gouldii). Certain families were shepherded in the 

 same place each day, and they each kept to the haunt of the 

 season's nest. So tame did those in his garden become, that 

 they (<? and 2 ) were handled three times in order to follow the 

 process of moulting.^ Other male wrens {M. cyaneus), appear 

 to me to take less time in the moult ; but as I lost their identity, 

 I also lost confidence in the verity of the observation. 



This season (1898-99), Mr. Graham's garden wren moulted its 

 " blues and blacks " in early February and resumed a similar 

 dress between 24th April and 10th May. 



In an examination of eleven male skins of M. gouldii, that are 

 undergoing a change in plumage from "blue "to " brown " or 

 vice versa, I find the following results :— - 



Afales losing ^' blues." — Summer to autumn, 4. (Specimens, 

 1-4.) 



/ Summer to autumn, 3. (Speci- 



Males gaining '■'•blues" 6.- mens, 5, 9, 10.) 



' Spring, 3. (Specimens, 7, 8, 11.) 



Mules gaining " blues and browns " at the same time. Autumn, 

 1. (Specimen, 6.) 



Specimen 1. — Immature male, 3/3/97. Brown feathers of 

 head, cheeks, mantle and other parts are coming and have lately 

 appeared. Blues and blue-blacks are not coming just now, and 

 have not recently appeared. Only some 25 " blues " scattered 

 among a large percentage of old blacks are new browns.^ Bill and 

 legs of a nutty brown indicative of youth and of one that seems 

 to have on this first spring obtained half its " blues,'' and 

 dropped them in March. Secondary quills not edged with 

 greenish-blue, e.g. brown. Abdomen a greenish-white, and not so 

 clear a white as in other birds, with tails of deeper blue. Tail 

 feathers are in two stages ; one moulting. 



1 The nest of this brood was placed in a bush onlj' twelve (12) feet from the front 

 door, and brought out four chicks (the only case we know of exceeding the usual 

 number of three to a clutch). Unfortunately three succumbed to accidents. 



- The greya are displacing the blue-blacks along the dorsal region downwards. 



