I'j PARSONS — New Suh-sjjecies of Emu Wren. 



Mr. J. N. McGilp during October, 1919, and as might be ex- 

 pected in the case where these weak flying birds had been 

 isolated on an island for nndoubtedly a very long period, they 

 show a very marked difference from all the mainland formsf 

 To put it concisely: Whereas the mainland forms have 

 warm colors on the upper surface of chestnut brown crowns, 

 brown and black backs, the Kangaroo Island forms have a 

 "washed-out" appearance with light brown crowns, light gray 

 and very dark gray backs. 



We found that at the time of our visit these little birds 

 were breeding, and most of the adult birds were accompanied 

 by their brood of three young ones, with tails varying in length 

 from about ^ inch to almost full length. Our experience of 

 the situation these birds prefer was contrary to expectations. 

 We did not find any birds in the cool, damp gullies, but in every 

 instance they were encountered on the tops of dry, inhospitable 

 flat-topped hills, covered with a low growth of "bull oak," 

 "broom-bush," and "grass-tree." 



UESCIJIPTION. 



Adult Male. — Forehead and fore-crown, sayal brown ; the 

 rest of the upper surface, light neutral gray, streaked with 

 dusky neutral gray; upper tail coverts, light neutral gray; lores 

 throat, and upper chest, dutch blue; centre of abdomen, whit- 

 ish; flanks and lower chest, cinnamon buff; ear-coverts, deep 

 neutral gray, with white centres; wings, very dark gray (al- 

 most black), but each feather margined light gray; iris, brown; 

 legs and feet, brown; bill, very dark brown (almost black). 



Adult Female. — The Avhole of the upper surface, light neut- 

 ral gray, streaked dusky neutral gray, with just a very faint 

 brown wash on the forehead; lores and whole of under surface, 

 cinnamon buff, excepting centi-e of abdomen, which is whitish; 

 upper tail coverts, light neutral gray; wings, very dark gray 

 (almost black), but each feather margined light gray; iris, legs, 

 feet and bill same as male bird. 



Young INtale. — The tail feathers were about | inch long; 

 throat and lores, blue, but lighter in color than in the adult 

 male; and the forehead and fore-crown is a gray instead of 

 brown, as in the adult. 



Note. — In the descriptions above, the colors are standard- 

 ized against those in "COLOK STANDARDS AND NOMEN- 

 CLATURE," bv "RIDGWAY." 



