32 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



throat and fore-neck light bhie ; centre of chest whitish ; rest of 

 under surface yellowish-brown, darker on the sides; bill blackish- 

 brown; legs and feet pale olive-brown. Dimensions in nun.: — 

 Length, 153; bill, 8.5; wing, 41; tail (two central feathers), 89; 

 tarsus, 19.5. 



Female. — Similar to male save that the head is ashy-brown 

 and the throat and fore-neck are j'ellowish-brown. 



Young. — Duller in colour than adults; no rufous on the crown 

 of the head ; feathers on upper surface tinged with ochraceous- 

 brown and very lightly streaked with black; chin and throat very 

 light blue. 



Nest. — Eesembles somewhat that of the Blue Wren, only that 

 it is very loosely constructed, the mouth takes up practically the 

 whole of the upper part of the nest, and the egg cavity is very 

 shallow, the eggs lying almost on a level with the lip of the 

 opening. Pine, soft grasses are generally used, with a few feathers 

 as lining. A seemingly favourite situation is among grass at or 

 near the foot of a clump of briers; other situations are among a 

 clump of thick grass or in dense scrub. 



Eggs. — Clutch three to four; elongated oval in shape; texture 

 of shell very fine and surface glossy; colour pearly white, with 

 markings of rich reddish-chestnut. The amount of maikings on 

 eggs in the same clutch varies; in one egg the markings will be 

 evenly distributed, on another those on the stouter end will be 

 more pronounced, and in a third the stouter end alone will be 

 marked. Dimensions in mm. of a full clutch: — (1) 18 x 12.5, (2) 

 17.5 X 13.5, (3) 18 X 13.5, (4) 18 x 13. 



Breeding Season. — September or October to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, New South Wales, Vic- 

 toria, South Queensland, South and Western Australia. 



Observations. — This tiny Wren is somewhat rare, only being 

 found in a few districts. Open, plain-like country is its favourite 

 haunt, where the button, band, and cutting grasses grow espec- 

 ially. Its flight is weak and wavering, most of its time being 

 spent on the ground or close to it. In disposition it is very shy, 

 keeping well out of sight should danger, seeming or real, threaten. 

 When flushed it flutters for a few yards and then quickly dis- 

 appears from sight in a clump of grass. 



A few are to be found round Launceston and its vicinity. It 

 is also to be found in suitable localities in various other parts of 

 the island, the class of country mostly favoured being that covered 

 with Epacris and grass-trees in addition to hght timber. Of this 

 species Gould says : — " It is a recluse little bird, concealing itself 

 from view by keeping near the ground in the midst of the mora 

 dense parts of the grass-beds, and very seldom showing itself. Its 

 extremely short, round wings ill adapt it for flight, and this power 

 is consequently seldom employed, the bird depending for progres- 

 sion upon its extraordinary capacity for running; in fact, when 



