l66 Whitlock, Notes on North-Western Birds. \ ^7" -i 



Liit April 



Notes on North-Western Birds.* 



By F. Lawson Whitlock, R.A.O.U., Chiltern, Tudor, via 



Albany (W.A.) 



(With criticisms by A. J. Campbell, C.M.B.O.U., on certain skins 



collected.) 



White-winCxEd Wren {Maliirits cyanotits). 



During my travels in Western Australia I frequently met with 

 the White-winged or Blue-and-white Wren. It has an extensive 

 range. I have met it as far south as Lake Dundas, on the Norse- 

 man goldfield, and in our great North- West up to the De Grey 

 River. Generally speaking, it is an inhabitant of the hot, dry 

 interior, being very plentiful around Lake Austin, on the Murchison 

 goldfield, and, again, further east, around Lake Way, 150 miles 

 farther inland. In these latter localities its favourite haunts are 

 samphire fiats around the shores of these vast salt lakes. In 

 latitudes farther south it inhabits the sand-plains, but the nearer 

 the latter approach the forest country the scarcer this Wren 

 becomes. It approaches the coast-line the farther north its 

 range extends, and may be found adjacent to the seashore in many 

 parts of our North-West. 



With such an extended habitat it naturally shows some variation 

 in plumage. This is most apparent in the brilliance or other- 

 wise of the blue coloration, the brightest birds being found, 

 according to my observations, in the hot interior, where the 

 species is most plentiful. On the sand-plains of the south-west, 

 where it is far from common, the blue appears to be of a deeper 

 shade, and the white not so pure. Again, in the far north, 

 amongst the spinifex, where its range must about reach its limit 

 in that direction, the general appearance of the White-winged 

 Wren is less striking. It is smaller, has a deeper-toned plumage, 

 and the ear coverts do not differ much in tint from the remainder 

 of the blue plumage. 



It is a hardy little bird, and one wonders how it can hold its 

 own in localities where rain is often absent for over twelve months 

 at a time, and where the summer temperature for lengthened 

 periods exceeds 100° Fahr. in the shade. Even in the driest seasons 

 pairs are found breeding. Near the coast the heavy morning 

 dews would afford sufficient moisture for drinking purposes, but 

 in the sweltering interior, around the salt lakes, dew in the early 

 morning is unknown. How these and other small birds exist 

 without water is a mystery. I can only suggest that the sappy 

 leaves of the samphire are eaten for the sake of the moisture they 

 contain. 



I have observed many nests of this little Wren. In the interior 



* There are two divisions in North-Western Australia — the North-West 

 proper and the Farther North-West, known as Kimberley. These two 

 divisions are separated by the Great Sandy Desert — a natural barrier to some 

 species, or varieties, as the case may be. The present paper refers to the 

 North-West division proper. 



