INSESSORES. 317 



end. In some instances these purple-black specks and mark- 

 ings assume forms similar to those described as occurring on 

 the eggs of Psophodes crcjntans. 



Pamily ? 



Genus MALURUS, VieilloL 



The members of this genus are among the most beautiful 

 of the Australian birds. Their gay attire, however, is only 

 assumed during the pairing-season, and is retained for a very 

 short period, after which the sexes are alike in colouring. 



The genus is strictly an Australian one, and, with two or 

 three exceptions, all the species are confined to the southern 

 parts of the continent and Tasmania. They build dome- 

 shaped nests, and are frequently selected to perform the 

 office of foster-parents to the young of the Bronze Cuckoo, 

 {^Chrysococcyx lucidus). 



Sp. 185. MALURUS CYANEUS, VieilloL 



Superb Warbler. 



Sylvia cyanea, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. ii. p. 545. 

 Motacilla cyanea, Gmel. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 991. 



supei'ba, Shaw, Nat. Misc., pi. 10. 



Superb Warble)', Shaw in White's Voy., pi. in p. 256, upp. fig. 

 Malurus cyaneus, Vieill. Gal. des Ois., p. 265, pi. 163. 

 Superb Warbler, Blue Wren, Sec, of the Colonists. 



Malurus cyaneus, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iii. pi. 18. 



Of the lovely group of birds forming the genus Malurus, 

 the present species is the oldest known, being that described 

 and figured in White's Voyage to New South Wales, under 

 the name of Superb Warbler, a term by which the bird is still 

 familiarly known in Austraha. It is abundantly dispersed 

 over the eastern portion of the country, and 1 observed it to 

 be equally numerous on the plains of the interior ; but how 



