MATHEWS— Hints of North and North-West Australia. 175 



Irides, brown; bill, black; legs and feet, brownish iiesh 

 colour. , 



No. 254.— 9 . Length, 6.1 inches (1/9/86). 



No. 266.— 8 . Length, 5. inches. 



No. 268.— 2 . Length, 5.8 inches (3/9/86). 



No. 272.— 8 . Length, 6.1 inches (4/9/86). 



No. 276.— 9 . Length, 5.5 inches (5/9/86). 



No. 282,— 9 • Length, 5.9 inches (6/9/86). 



No. 287.— 8 . Length, 5.9 inches (7/9/86). 



No. 292.-5. Length, 6. inches (8/9/86). 



No. 293.— 2 - Length, 5.6 inches (8/9/86). 



No. 302.— 8 . Length, 6. inches (11/9/86). 



No. 303.— 8 . Length, 6.3 inches (11/9/86). 



No. 304.— 9 . Length, 5.7 inches (11/9/86). 



No. 334.— 8 . Length, — inches (16/9/86). 



No. 338.— 8 . Length, 6.2. inches (17/9/86) 



No. 352.— 9 . Length, 6.5. inches (20/9/86). 



No. 354.— 9 . Length, 5.8 inches (20/9/86). 



No. 372.— 8 . Length, 5.9 inches (27/9/86). 



No. 373.— 8 . Length, 5.9 inches (27/9/86). 



No. 373.— 9 . Length, 5.6 inches (27/9/86). 



No. 408.— 8 . Length, 5.7 inches (17/10/86). 



No, 430.— 9 . Length, 5.9 inches (24/10/86). 



No. 432.— 8 . Length. 6.4 inches (24/10/86). 



No — 8 . Length, 6.4 inches (24/10/86). 



No. 463.— 9 . Length 6. inches (28/10/86). 



No. 466.— 8. Length, 6.4 inches (28/10/86) 



No. 471.— 8 . Length, 6. inches (28/10/86). % 



No. 477.— 9 . Length, 5.4 inches (29/10/86). 



No. 478.— 8 . Length, 6.3 inches (29/10/86) 



No. 529.— 8 . Length, 6. inches (8/11/86). 



No. 530.— 9 . Length, 5.8 inches (8/11/86) 



These birds are found in a bamboo-like growth, some- 

 times many yards from the riverside. They are always driv- 

 ing away Ryania melanoccphala boweri. They are very in- 

 quisitive, the females coming within two or three yards of one. 

 The all have the power of raising the feathers of the crown of 

 the head, which greatly increases the apparent size of that 

 part. The female always seems to load the parties or 

 families and they arc never far from the water's edge. While 

 moving along they constantly utter a call "chirri-fp," which 

 seems to be repeated by each member. The number of these 

 parties varies from 5 to 7. The tail is carried much like' 

 Malurus, but not -so far over the back. Thev often take in- 



