THE SINGING BIRDS. 267 



The genus Stipdurus, according to Mr. Gould, is a form entirely confined to Australia. These 

 birds frequent extensive grass-beds, particularly those which occur in humid situations. They run 

 quickly over the ground, and carry the tail erect, like the Maluri. Some slight variation occurs in 

 specimens from Tasmania and Southern and Western Australia, but, probably, they are all referable 

 to one species. 



" The delicate little Emu Wren," says Dr. Bennett, " although formerly seen in great numbers in 

 the vicinity of Sydney, is now very rare. It was also named the Cassowary Bird by the early 

 colonists, from the peculiar feathers in the tail, and was first described in 179S, in the Linmzan 

 Transactions. It is an active litde creature, running rapidly among the grass, and, from the 

 shortness of its wings, appears ill adapted for flight. Some years since it congregated in great 

 numbers in the Sydney Domain, near the Botanic Garden, but for some time not one has been seen 

 in that locality. This bird rarely perches on a bush at an elevation of more than three or four feet 

 from the ground ; it is usually observed darting quickly over the long grass, and, by its activity, 

 readily eludes pursuit." 



" This curious little bird," says Mr. Gould, " has a wide distribution, since it inhabits the whole 

 of the southern portion of Australia, from Moreton Bay on the east to Swan River on the west, 

 including Tasmania. Among the places where it is most numerous in the latter country are the 

 swampy grounds in the neighbourhood of Recherche Bay in D'Entrecasteaux Channel, the meadows 

 at New Norfolk, Circular Head, and Flinder's Island in Bass Straits. On the continent of Australia, 

 Botany Bay and, indeed, all portions of the country having a similar character are favoured with 

 its presence. 



" The Emu Wren is especially fond of low, marshy districts, covered with rank high grasses and 

 rushes, where it conceals itself from view by keeping near the ground, and in the midst of the more 

 dense parts of the grass-beds. Its extremely short round wings ill adapt it for flight, and this power 

 is consequently seldom employed, the bird depending for progression upon its extraordinary capacity 

 for running ; in fact, when the grasses are wet from dew or rain, its wings are rendered perfectly 

 unavailable. On the ground it is altogether as nimble and active ; its creeping, mouse-like motions, 

 and the extreme facility with which it turns and bounds over the surface, enabling it easily to elude 

 pursuit, and amply compensating for the paucity of its powers of flight. The tail is carried in an 

 erect position, and is even occasionally retroverted over the back. 



" The nest, which is a small ball-shaped structure, with rather a large opening on one side, i* 

 composed of grasses lined with feathers, and artfully concealed in a tuft of grass or low shrub. One 

 that I found in Recherche Bay contained three newly-hatched young ; this being the only nest I ever 

 met with, I am unable to give any description of its eggs from my own observation ; but the want is 

 supplied by the following account of diis species from the pen of Mr. E. P. Ramsay, published in the 

 Ibis for 1865 : — 



" ' I had for many days visited the swamps on Long Island, where these birds are very plentiful, 

 in the hope of finding them breeding, but it was not till the 25th of September that I succeeded in 

 discovering a nest, although I had watched them for hours together for several days. While walking 

 along the edge of the swamp on that da)' a female flew from my feet out of an overhanging tuft of 

 grass, growing only a few yards from the water's edge. Upon lifting up the leaves of the grass which 

 had been beaten down by the wind, I found its nest carefully concealed near the roots, and containing 

 three eggs. They were quite warm, and within a few days of being hatched, which may account for 

 the bird being unwilling to leave the spot ; for, upon my returning about five minutes afterwards, the 

 female was perched upon the same tuft of grass, and within a few inches of whence I had taken die 

 nest. The nest was of an oval form (but that part which might be termed the true nest was perfectly 



