176 



into the thick undergrowth, and then hop away unobserved. As 

 soon as he was at a safe distance, the females and young birds 

 followed. 



Kg. 56. Amytis striatus (Striated Desert Wren). 

 Although frequently seen as we travelled over the spinifex 

 flats, I did not secure specimens of this bird until 6th October, 

 about 40 miles south of Separation Well, where eight specimens 

 (tour of each sex) revealed the fact that there is no sexual 

 difference in plumage. During August Messrs. L. A. Wells and 

 Jones found several nests containing eggs belonging to this 

 species, and subsequently a number of others were obtained. 

 The nests were always placed on top of a spinifex tussock, and 

 built of soft grass, with a large opening near the top. The eggs 

 (two in number) were either finely or heavily spotted with light 

 brown on a white ground. 



No. 57. Amytis textilis (Quoy's Desert Wren). 

 Amongst the saltbush near Lake Way, and also ou the 

 samphire flats or scrub-covered sandhills near our camel depot 

 on Creek, I obtained over a dozen specimens of this 



bird, and in August secured a pair of young ones unable to fly. 

 I found no variation in colour or structure in either sex or stage, 

 adult or young. They all possessed the same stout bill and 

 fleshy thighs. The sexes could not be distinguished without 

 dissection. These birds keep close to the ground under some 

 dense bush until disturbed, when they fly or run with great 

 rapidity to the nearest shelter. Occasionally at mating- time 

 they ma}^ be seen on a low bush, but seldom more than 2 feet 

 from the ground. Wounded, it is almost impossible to secure 

 them, as they run to shelter and hide like mice. 



No. 58. Stipiturus malacurus (Emu Wren). 



When approaching Separation Well we were surprised to find 

 a species of small bird hiding in the spinifex. Numbers were 

 seen, but, owing to their agility in concealing themselves, and 

 their disinclination to fly, it was difficult work to secure them. 

 The first one obtained was caught by Messrs. L. A. Wells and 

 G, L. Jones by simply throwing a waterproof sheet over the 

 tussock in which it secreted itself, and then removing the grass 

 by degrees until the bird was caught. It proved to be an im- 

 mature female. At the well I succeeded in obtaining three more 

 (two males and one female). Thus in the arid desert and in hot 

 weather we found birds that have hitherto been associated in our 

 minds with moist localities. The males were extremely brilliant 

 in colour, the throat being a very bright lavender-blue. These 

 were all shot in a low acacia bush on a sandhill. Three of their 



