322 THE BIRDS OP AUSTRALIA 



The Little Scrub-Wren, S. minimus. — Northern Queensland. Lores, 

 feathers below the eye and ear-coverts light rufous; throat white; 

 under surface pale yellowish-white. Length 3.9 inches, wing 2.16, 

 tail 1.8, tarsus 0.7. 



Genus Malurus. Wrens. 

 Confined to Australia and New Guinea. Small birds, about 

 the size of the Robin, usually under 5 inches in length, with 

 much of the habit of the English Wren, and a not dissimilar 

 song, which are found flitting among the bushes whether in the 

 wild scrub or in the garden of the city. Their diet consists 

 exclusively of insects such as grasshoppers, caterpillars and the 

 larvse of cockchafer beetles, and because of their usefulness, and, 

 still more, because of their pretty movements and pert confidence, 

 they are general favourites. Since the wings are short and 

 rounded there is no great power of long flight, but the bird 

 passes over the ground in a succession of bounding hops, or 

 flits amongst the bushes hiding- itself for a moment and then 

 emerging always with the long tail held erect or 

 thrown forward over the body. Mr. Robert Hall 

 says of their melodious notes, "There is the first grand 

 oratorio of the male in spring, when he is leading a charming 

 competitive life ; then the notes of rollicking inn of the summer 

 bird; and, thirdly, the series of thrilling squeaks when the 

 young have ventured into a gambol among the boughs, which 

 would be quite out of place in birds of maturer years, while 

 during nesting the female will sometimes utter a call as if a 

 tragedy were taking place. Blue Wrens are occasionally known 

 to sing at night." The nest is dome-shaped, with a narrow 

 entrance in the side, and is made of dried grasses, lined inside 

 with feathers or hair. "Ideal nesting places are small detached 

 portions of cover situated at a short distance from the main 

 cover, and all the better if it contains plenty of tussocky grass. 

 A large overhanging tussock comes first in favour for the nest ; 

 next, low prickly bushes. When the young are old enough to 

 make an outcry if disturbed is the time to see a display of 

 pugnacity and courage on the part of the male. It does not 

 flutter or \itter alarm notes like the female, but goes silently and 



