206 A. G. Campbell, The Birds of King Island. [isfApril 



visitant, nesting in the dead trees and stumps in clearings adjacent to 

 timber. 



Petrceca RHODINOGASTRA (Pink-breasted Robin). — Found in one or two 

 sheltered nooks along the Pass River where hazel, boobyalla, and blackwood 

 flourish under the kindly shade of a few tall eucalypts. Attention is often 

 first attracted to the bird by its sharp note, resembling very much the 

 click of the grasshopper. A nest containing three eggs taken in November 

 proves it to be a late breeder. 



Petrceca vittata (Dusky Robin). — A species common everywhere, 

 nesting sometimes on the dead trees in the clearings and sometimes in 

 living scrub. The young, when they leave the nest, are streaky in appear- 

 ance, and somewhat conspicuous objects when sitting on a dead twig 

 waiting to be fed ; each feather of the head and back has a light-coloured 

 stripe down the centre, and the light-coloured feathers of the under surface 

 are edged with brown. The old birds are very homely in appearance 

 and in their ways, though at times they may become pugnacious. Their 

 efforts at song are more indicative of their vivacity than their musical 

 taste. 



RhipiduRA diemenensis (Dusky Fantail). — This inhabits the Melaleuca 

 scrub, and, excepting that its song differs, it appears to be very close to 

 the mainland species, R. alhiscapa. 



Malurus elizabeth.'E (Dark Blue Wren), (Plate X.) — This was taken 

 by the Field Naturalists' expedition in 1887 to be 3f. ^cw/rfz' of Tasmania, 

 but an examination of a series of skins at a later date proved it to be 

 distinct — a much larger and darker bird. A number of skins procured 

 during the recent trip fully justifies its separation as a new species. One 

 specimen, however, appeared to be a connecting link, as regards colour, 

 with M . gouldi ; but as against this it is the largest in size of any yet taken, 

 with a bill .55 inches in length. The measurements of the male of M. 

 elizabethcs, taken in the flesh, are: — Length, 5.5 inches; bill, .5 in.; wing, 

 2.1 in. ; tail, 2.5 in. ; tarsus, i.o in. The dark intensified colour is seen 

 not only in the blue but in the black of the upper surface ; throat very deep 

 Prussian blue, separated from the whitish abdomen by a band of black, 

 below which again is a washing of light blue, half an inch wide on the 

 flanks, but narrowing towards the centre of the chest ; the lesser wing 

 coverts are Prussian blue, and primaries are edged with light blue. The 

 female has a brownish-blue tail, but the young in the first year have the 

 tail of similar colour (brown) to the mantle. This Wren is one of the 

 commonest birds on the island, being found not only in every patch of 

 scrub and timber, but also inhabiting the tall grass and trefoil in the 

 pasture. The theory that the Blue Wren of the mainland is polygamous 

 is rendered uncertain when it is remembered that the females and immature 

 males by far outnumber the full-plumaged males, and it has been suggested 

 that several brown ones follow each brilliant lord about for company. 

 On King Island the sexes are more evenly balanced. As proof that the 

 Wrens are sociable, one incident will suffice, for when a party of three little 

 short-tailed brown^ young ones, recently from the nest, was disturbed, 

 no less than three brilliant males appeared, and, flitting up and down a 

 log, within a foot or two of the intruder, showed as much concern as the 

 mother bird herself. 



Geocichla MACRORHYNCHA (Large-billed Ground-Thrush). — A pair of 

 birds was noted in a patch of tea-tree, among gum saplings The very 

 delicate song of the male late in the afternoon is a counterpart of that of 

 the mainland species, G. Innulata. 



