THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 197 



3. Textile Wren, Amytis textilis. — Differing but slightly 

 from the foregoing species in structure and plumage, the Textile 

 Wren is generally seen in country containing low stunted herbage, 

 saltbush or samphire, in addition to spinifex. Its low, squeaking 

 note is first heard, and the bird dislodged by kicking the bush, 

 when it runs off to the nearest shelter. When undisturbed they 

 occasionally perch on a low bush and indulge in a very pretty 

 song. Their nests are placed beside a tussock or low bush, and 

 contain two white eggs, closely spotted with red, almost obscuring 

 the ground colour at the large end. Although I have found 

 these birds near water they are quite as numerous far from it. 



4. Emu Wren, Stipiturus malachurus. — Endowed with very 

 short, round wings, these diminutive birds were found in the 

 spinifex in the centre of the desert. Owing to their dodging like 

 mice from tussock to tussock it was impossible to shoot them, 

 and specimens were secured by covering the tussock with a 

 canvas sheet and then extracting the bird. Their nests were 

 placed on the side of the spinifex. As the specimens obtained 

 were all lost, there may be some doubt as to the identity of this 

 bird, owing to the fact that the males were somewhat brighter 

 coloured on the throat, and the barbs of the tail feathers were 

 closer and more compact, than those of birds found in the moist 

 localities which they usually frequent. 



5. Tricolored Ephthianura, E. tricolor. — Whilst only iso- 

 lated birds of this species were seen during the hottest weather, 

 in the months of July and August large flocks of both old and 

 young were passed far from any known water. Those noted in 

 October were the only birds seen, except the Oreoica, for several 

 days. 



6. Alexandra Parrakeet, Spathoplemcs alexandrce. — Few 

 birds have been the subjects of more interest than this species. 

 When first discovered by Mr. Waterhouse at Howell Ponds, 

 Northern Territory, about forty years ago, some ornithologists 

 were of opinion that the specimens were simply hybrids; but the 

 illusion was soon dispelled, as subsequent birds were obtained by 

 Dr. Stirling and others. On 16th June, 1894, I found many of 

 these beautiful parrakeets scattered about in small flocks in desert 

 oaks or amongst the spinifex, near Glen Edith, in Central Aus- 

 tralia, and again in September, 1896, I saw them in pairs or 

 small flocks in the desert of North-West Australia. They were 

 always seen in the most inhospitable country it is possible to 

 conceive, either flying slowly, as if distressed, or feeding amongst 

 the spinifex, the seeds of which form their chief food. Although 

 camped for a week at a well where thousands of other birds came 

 to drink, the Alexandra Parrakeet, which had been seen about 

 twenty miles away, did not come near. It is doubtless owing to 

 the desolate nature of the country which they inhabit that so few 



