INSESSORES. 341 



which are so common in all the swamps near the Hunter 

 River, hned with fine grass, roots, and, finally, a very fine 

 green moss. It is very loosely put together, and requu'es to 

 be moved very gently to prevent its falling to pieces. 



" The eggs measure 6^ lines long by 4^ broad, sprinkled 

 all over with minute dots of a light reddish brown, particularly 

 at the larger end, where they are blotched with the same 

 colour. One of the three had no blotches, but was minutely 

 freckled all over. The ground-colour is a delicate white, with 

 a blush of pink before the egg is blown. 



" The only note of the bird, besides a slight chirp when 

 flushed and separated, is a slight twitter, not unlike a faint 

 attempt to imitate the Malurus cyaneus. While in the swamp, 

 which at the time was nearly dry, I observed several separate 

 flocks : of these some were hopping along the ground, picking 

 up something here and there ; others, whose appetites seemed 

 appeased, were creeping along through the reeds about a foot 

 from the ground, but as the reeds thickened 1 soon lost sight 

 of them. They seldom took wing, except when disturbed, 

 and not always then, seeming very averse to showing them- 

 selves. While watching them I observed one now and then 

 hop to the top of a tall reed as if to get a glimpse at the world 

 above. Upon coming suddenly upon a flock and following 

 them, they keep to the reeds just in front of you, and never 

 take wing unless hard driven, when they separate and do not 

 collect again for some time." 



The male is readily distinguished from the female by the 

 blue colouring of the throat, and by a somewhat greater de- 

 velopment of the tail-feathers. The decomposed or loose 

 structure of these feathers, much resembling those of the Emu, 

 has suggested the colonial name of Emu Wren for this species, 

 an appellation singularly appropriate, inasmuch as it at once 

 indicates the kind of plumage with which the bird is clothed, 

 and the Wren-like nature of its habits. 



