MALURUS CYANEUS. 



(Blue Wren- — Superb Warbler.) 



^ 



Male — Crown, sides of the head, and a broad crescent on the upper part of the back, beautiful shining light blue ; back of the neck, streak 

 before and behind the eye, throat and chest, back and rump, deep black ; abdomen, whitish ; wings, pale brown ; tail, blackish tipped with 

 w^hite ; bill, black ; feet, brown. 



Female— Brown above ; grejash white beneath. 



Length, 4f inches ; wing, 1| ; tail, 2i ; bill, | ; tarsus, |. 



This species is plentiful in JSTew South Wales, but is rarely met with so far north as Moreton Bay. During the winter months 

 the adult.male loses its bright coloring, and the plumage of the sexes is very similar, the only marked distinction being the color of the bill — 

 the male retaining its black bill at all seasons, whereas the female and young males have the mandibles brown. It is very active, generally 

 being met with in grassy situations, among the stems of which it threads its way with great dexterity, carrying its tail in an erect position. 

 The song is something like that of the European wren. Its food consists of insects, especially caterpillars. The nest is a dome-shaped 

 structure of grass, lined with hair or feathers, and has a small hole for entrance at the side. It incubates from September to December, and 

 rears two or three broods. The eggs are four in number, delicate flesh-white, sprinkled with blotches and spots of reddish brown, forming a 

 zone at the broad end : size, 8 lines bv 5^ lines. 



MALURUS LONGICAUDUS. 



(Long-tailed Wreri.) 



■ » 



No separate description is necessary for this species, which differs from the former in the greater length of its tail, and in having the blue 

 coloring a little darker. Its habits, food, and nidification are similar to those of the Malurus Cyaneus. 



Length, 5 inches ; w^ing, 2 ; tail, 2|- ; bill, f ; tarsus, 1. 

 Habitant — Tasmania. 



MALURUS MELANOTUS. 



(Blach-bached Wren.) 



-♦- 



Male — Crown, chin, throat, abdomen, upper parb of the back, upper and under tail coverts, beautiful metallic blue ; ear coverts, verditer 

 blue ; lores, band across the breast and lower part of head, velvety black ; external margins of all the wing feathers, green ; tail, bluish green 

 slightly tipped with white ; bill, black ; irides and legs, blackish brown. 



Female — Has the lores and circle round the eye reddish brown ; upper surface, brown ; under surface, brownish white ; 

 wings, brown ; tail, green tipped wdth white ; bill, reddish brown ; feet, brown. 



Length, 4f inches ; wing, 2 ; tail, 2i ; bill, ^ ; tarsus, -f. 



This species may be regarded as intermediate between the above and the following. It is mostly to be seen on the ground in 

 the neighborhood of scrubs, and runs with astonishing swiftness. Habitat- — Belts of the Murray, South Australia. 



MALURUS SPLENDENS. 



(Banded Wren) 



. >^ _ 



Male — Crown, back, and rump, azure blue ; throat and under surface, the same, but with a cast of purple ; cheeks and ear coverts, brilliant 

 metallic blue ; a band behind the head and ear coverts, and a narrow band across the chest, velvet black ; external margins of the wing 

 feathers, green; inner webs and tips of primaries, brown; tail, bluish green, slightly tipped with white; bill, black; feet, brown. 



Length, 5 inches ; wings, 2 ; tail, 2^ ; bill, \; tarsus, f. 



This species is one of the most beautiful of the genus to which it belongs. It is peculiar to Western Australia, where it fre- 

 quents scrubby situations throughout the colony, associating in companies of five or six. It incubates in September and the three following 

 months. Its nest and eggs are similar to those of Malurus Cyaneus, as are also its food and general habits. 



MALURUS LAMBERT!. 



(Lambert's JVren) 



■♦— 



Male — Crown, ear coverts, sides of the neck, and centre of the back, rich verditer blue ; throat, breast, crescent across the upper part of the 

 back, and rump, black ; scapularies, brilliant chestnut ; wings, brown ; abdomen, whitish ; tail, dark brown, tinged with green and tipped 

 with white ; bill, black ; feet, fleshy brown. 



Female — Brownish grey above ; huffish beneath. • 



Length, 5i inches ; wing. If ; tail, 2i ; bill, \ ; tarsus, ^. 



This species has an extensive range, being found in Queensland and New South Wales. It is sometimes seen in gardens in 

 the neighborhood of Sydney, and also on the low scrubs of the sand-hills ; but in Queensland it frequents high ferns and reedy situations, 

 and in manners and habits assimilates to its congeners. The nest is also similar, but the eggs are, perhaps, more largely blotched. The 

 Queensland specimens appear to be brighter in color than those of New South Wales. 



MALURUS ELEGANS. 



(Grraceful Wren) 



-♦ 



Male— Forehead, ear coverts, sides of the face, and occiput, rich verditer blue ; centre of the back, light verditer blue ; scapularies, chest- 

 nut ; throat, chest, back of the neck, and rump, deep velvety black ; wings, brown ; abdomen and under tail coverts, huffy white ; tail, dull 

 bluish green, crossed by numerous indistinct bars, and slightly tipped with white ; bill, black ; irides and feet, blackish brown. 



Female— Upper surface and wings, brown ; under surface, bufty white ; tail, not tipped with white ; bill and feet, brown. 



This species is very nearly allied to Malurus Lamberti, but is a little larger than that species, and the feathers of the tail are 

 more spatulate. The blue coloring of the back is also lighter. It is found in Western Australia, frequenting swampy situations. The nest 

 is similar in form to that of Malurus Cyaneus, but more slightly put together, the materials used being thin shreds of melaleuca bark, with a 

 lining of feathers— the same being generally suspended from a branch of the same tree. Eggs, four in number, similar in color and markings, 

 but rather larger than those of Malurus Cyaneus. Food — Insects and caterpillars. 



