114 Mathews, Malurus dulcis {Lavender-flanked Wren). r,^f"j 



mu 

 an. 



tipped more or less plainly with white, which extends along the 

 outer web of the outermost feathers ; throat, chest, and upper 

 breast black, with a patch of lilac-blue on each side of the latter ; 

 lower breast and abdomen white, the sides of the body and flanks 

 washed with pale lilac-blue or lavender ; thighs white, with 

 indistinct dusky bars ; under tail coverts white, washed with 

 lavender-blue ; under wing coverts white ; quills dusky brown 

 below, ashy along the edges of the inner webs. Bill black ; legs 

 and feet dark brown. Total length, about 5.2 inches ; culmen, 

 0.5 inch ; wing, 1.9 inches ; tail, 2.3 inches ; tarsus, 0.85 inch. 



Adult Female. — Ranges 10 miles east of South Alligator 

 River, 4th July, 1903 (J. T. Tunney ; Rothschild Museum, No. 

 1,286). Entirely different from the male. Bluish-grey above, 

 from the forehead to the upper tail coverts ; wing coverts brown, 

 externally bluish-grey, a little darker than the back ; quills 

 dusky-brown, with lighter brown edges ; tail feathers dark blue ; 

 lores and feathers round the eye white ; ear coverts, sides of 

 face, and sides of neck bluish-grey ; cheeks and throat white ; 

 fore-neck, chest, and remainder of under surface pale buff, the 

 sides of the upper breast light slaty-grey ; the thighs rather 

 deeper fawn-colour, as are also the under wing coverts ; quills 

 dusky below, a little more ashy on the inner webs. Bill 

 reddish ; eye brown ; legs brown. Total length, 5.2 inches ; 

 culmen, 0.55 inch; wing, 1.85 inches; tail, 2.5 inches; tarsus, 

 0.8 inch. 



The female, as I have remarked in my original paper (Bull. 

 B.O.C., xxi., p. 100), is different from that of any other known 

 species of il/c^/wr^i-, being of a bluish-grey colour above. The 

 species is altogether a very remarkable one, and I have had 

 much pleasure in having the coloured plate done for TJie 

 Emu. 



Note. — On looking at the skin, I think the scapulars could 

 be raised by the male under excitement, such as displaying 

 during the breeding season. Has anyone ever noticed this in 

 any species of Malurus ? — G. M. M. 



Thermometer^Bird or Mallee^Fowl (Lipoa ocellata). 



By a. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S. 



Part II. 



Eggs. — The Lipoa does not start to breed until two years old, 

 and the first clutch of eggs laid is notabl)/ smaller in size than 

 those laid by aged birds. It is impossible to say with any degree 

 of certainty what is the precise interval between the laying of 

 each egg, since in some mounds observations made show that an 

 egg was laid every fourth day, in others every fifth day, whilst 



