332 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



bird is also the foster-parent of those birds. The number of 

 eggs laid by the Malurus leucopterus is in all probability 

 four; the one I possess is flesh-white, finely freckled with 

 reddish brown (forming a zone at the larger end), and is eight 

 lines long by six lines broad. 



The male has the whole of the head, body above and 

 beneath, and the tail beautiful deep blue ; scapularies, wing- 

 coverts, and tertiaries snow-white; primaries brown, with 

 their external edges silvery green ; bill black ; feet brown ; 

 eyes dark brown. 



The female has the crown of the head and all the upper 

 surface and flanks brown ; throat and abdomen white, faintly 

 washed with brown ; external edges of the primaries and tail 

 pale greenish blue ; bill reddish brown. 



Sp. 195. MALURUS LEUCONOTUS, Gould. 



White-backed Superb Warbler. 

 Malurus leuconotus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, 1865, p. 198. 



In size this fine new species is very similar to the last, 

 from which, however, it may be at once distinguished by its 

 white back, which has suggested the specific name I have 

 assigned to it. 



It inhabits the interior of Australia, but the precise locality 

 is unknown to me ; it accompanied fine examples of Geojihaps 

 plumifera. My attention was called to it by Mr. Ward, of 

 Vere Street. The example described is in the possession of 

 Mrs. Elizabeth F. M. Craufuird, of Budleigh Salterton, Devon. 



The entu'e head, neck, under surface, rump, and tail deep 

 blue ; back, shoulders, greater and lesser wing-coverts, and 

 • secondaries silky white ; primaries brown ; bill black ; feet 

 brownish black. 



Total length 5^ inches ; bill \ ; wing 2 ; tail 3f ; tarsi |. 



