INSESSORES. 325 



all the specimens I possess were collected at Swan River, 

 where it is tolerably abundant. 



The nest is dome-shaped, with a hole in the side for an 

 entrance, and is generally formed of the thin paper-like bark 

 of the Tea-tree {Melaleuca), and lined with feathers : it is also 

 usually suspended to the foliage of this tree, and occasionally 

 to that of other shrubs which grow in its favourite localities. 

 The eggs are four in number, of a dehcate flesh- white, freckled 

 with spots of reddish brown, which are much thicker at the 

 larger end ; they are about eight lines long and six lines 

 broad. The breeding-season commences in September, and 

 continues during the three following months. 



The males are subject to the same law relative to the 

 seasonal change of plumage as the Malurus cyaneus and the 

 other members of the genus. The gay nuptial costume of 

 these birds renders them conspicuously different from the 

 Prinias of India, to which they have otherwise a seeming 

 alliance. 



The male has the forehead, ear-coverts, sides of the face, 

 and occiput rich verditer-blue ; centre of the back light 

 verditer-blue ; scapularies chestnut ; throat, chest, back of 

 the neck and rump deep velvety black, the throat in certain 

 lights tinged with blue ; wings brown ; abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts buffy white ; tail didl bluish green, crossed by 

 numerous indistinct bars, seen only in some positions, and 

 very slightly tipped with white ; bill black ; eyes and feet 

 blackish brown. 



The female has all the upper surface and wings brown ; 

 throat and under surface buff-white ; tail as in the male, but 

 more dull, and devoid of the white at the extremity of the 

 feathers ; bill dull reddish brown, lighter beneath ; space 

 between the bill and eyes reddish brown ; legs brown. 



Total length 5 J inches ; bill \ ; wing If ; tail 3|- ; tarsi 1. 



