Sept. 1, 1865.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



199 



THE BLUE WREN. 



{Mahmcs cycmens?) 



THE changes of plumage wliicli occur in some 

 of the birds of our own country will be fami- 

 liar to most of our readers. In nearly all birds a 

 manifest increase both in the colour and brilliancy 

 of their plumage takes place at the commencement 

 of the breeding season, and afterwards is lost, 

 gradually in some species, more suddenly in others. 

 The golden-coloured specks on the feathers of the 

 common starling are thus lost after the breeding 

 season, by the extreme tip of each feather breaking 

 off. In some of our native birds the assumption of 

 additional colours in the spring is made with great 

 rapidity, as in the black-headed bunting and the 

 black-headed gull, especially in the latter. 



None of our British birds can, however, vie for a 

 moment with the Blue Wren of Australia, either iu 

 the extraordinary changes of colour, or in the 

 rapidity with which they are assumed, and I have 

 often witnessed the transformation with wonder and 

 admiration. 



In his ordinary dress (for it is only in the male 

 that the change takes place), our friend is a very 

 unostentatious little fellow, dressed in a suit of plain 

 russet from head to foot. His disposition is in har- 

 mony with his dress, he makes no attempt to attract 

 attention, but quite content to pursue the "even tenor 

 of his way," he sings his hurried strain, caring little 

 whether it is applauded or not. 



This we may call his normal state, but no sooner 

 does his little breast feel the first glow of love than 

 all is changed — plumage, disposition, and manners. 

 Like human lovers, he is desirous of placing himself 

 to the best advantage in the eyes of the fair one he 

 has chosen ; and, in addition to other attractions, 

 personal appearance must have due attention. And 

 now comes the marvellous transformation : his russet 

 suit is exchanged for a sky-blue satin vest, which 

 glows with a metallic lustre, and a black velvet coat 

 (of course of the richest Genoa), while his head is 

 adorned with a graceful covering of the same re- 

 splendent blue. 



But love's transforming power extends to his 

 disposition as well as his di-ess ; his whole nature 

 seems to have received a new impulse, and his un- 

 obtrusive bashfulness is replaced by a confident 

 boldness, as if aware that he had become the " cy- 

 nosure of neighbouring eyes." Now sprightly and 

 vivacious he pours forth his song unceasingly, bound- 

 ing along with rapid, elastic hops, as if he knew not 

 how to contain his joy. 



This remarkable change continues until the lady 

 he has chosen has concluded her maternal duties, 

 but no longer. He doubtless feels that velvets and 

 satins are too fine for workday duties, and, like a 

 prudent paterfamilias, his holiday apparel is put 



away till another season, and the homely russet once 

 more resumed. 



My readers must understand that if my language 

 has been somewhat figurative, I have been simply 

 describing facts. 



The ordinary plumage of the Blue Wren is plain 

 brown, the tail feathers being of a darker hue. 



During the winter season they assemble in small 

 flocks, but as the spring approaches they separate 

 into pairs, and the male bird then undergoes the 

 extraordinary transformation I have described. 



In precise language, his nuptial dress is as follows : 



Crown of the head, ear-coverts, and a lunar- 

 shaped mark on the upper part of the back, like a 

 tippet, bright sky-blue, with a metallic hue and 

 texture ; lores, line over the eye, occiput, scapularies, 

 back, rump, and upper tail-coverts, rich velvety 

 black ; throat and chest, bluish black ; tail, blackish 

 blue, tipped with white ; wings, brown ; under 

 surface, buffy white, tinged bluish on the flanks. 



The rapidity with which this brilliant additional 

 plumage is put on is surprising ; about a week or 

 ten days sufiicing for its production, and after a few 

 months wear, it is thrown off with equal or greater 

 rapidity. 



It is a pretty sight to watch these little fellows in 

 their gay attire, and often as I have seen it, it has 

 always been with fresh pleasure. It is fond of wild, 

 scrubby districts, where brushwood alternates with 

 open spaces. It is plentiful in the extensive botani- 

 cal gardens on the bank of the Yarra, at Melbourne, 

 and may be seen there to great advantage, for it is 

 secure from murderous guns, and seems to under- 

 stand and appreciate its security. 



There are six species, inhabiting various parts of 

 the Australian continent, and all are remarkable for 

 the same changes of plumage. One or two species 

 found in the northern parts have the colours more 

 richly diversified, a rich cinnamon brown being 



added to the black and blue. 



W. J. Steeland. 



THE SPIRACLES OF THE ELY. 



ON a fine summer evening, a few years ago, with 

 a careless stroke, which happened with rather 

 true aim, I brought down a noisy blow-fly that was 

 buzzing about me. Seeing it not likely to recover 

 the effects of the blow, I thought it better to put 

 it out of pain, and kill it outright. To do so, I 

 took up a penknife and cut off its head, supposing 

 that to be a very short way to effect this object. 

 The fly thus decapitated gave several energetic 

 whirls on its back, and then became quite still and 

 motionless. A few hours after I touched the head- 

 less trunk, when, to my astonishment, it whirled 

 round again as briskly as ever ; and for many a day 

 I wondered how it could be that any insect could 



