THE LAEGE-TAILED GRASS WREN 331 



The Grass- Wren. 



A. textilis. 



West and Central Australia. 



Brown above, with a dirty white stripe down the centre of each 

 feather; chest lighter with similar streaks; a patch of ehestnut-bniwn 

 on the side and flank. Length 6 inches. 



Stunted tea-tree scrub, cane grass, samphire and spinifex 

 flats are the favourite haunts. Mr Keartland observed the birds 

 at breeding time for five weeks in a samphire flat. The male 

 birds showed themselves with great freedom, hopping about on 

 the open ground amongst the samphire. Females would soon 

 appear in answer to the call of the male, and then all the antics 

 of the Maluri were gone through. Each pair of birds kept to 

 themselves, and should a third appear it was at once chased 

 away. The nests were close to the ground, in dense undergrowth, 

 dome-shaped with a large side opening. The young as soon as 

 feathered, are exactly like the parents, except that the tail is a 

 trifle shorter. 



The Large-tailed Grass-Wren. 



A. macrurus. 



Western Australia. 

 Paler. Length 6.5 inches. 



The nest and eggs of the Large-tailed Grass-Wren were not 

 obtained until 1909, when Mr. C. G. Gibson collected examples 

 near Kalgoorlie. The nest is the usual bulky grass structure, 

 with very little "roof." The entrance is near the top, and is 

 large, the eggs being plainly visible from outside; no lining 

 beyond tine grasses is used in the nest, which is placed in the 

 centre of a low thick bush, a foot or two from the ground. 

 Eggs three in clutch, white with purplish-red dots and spots, 

 and underlying lilac grey markings, .78 in. x .65. Mr. Keartland 

 considered that this bird is identical with A. textilis. 



A. modestus from the Centre and adjoining regions of New 

 South "Wales and South Australia is also very similar, but much 

 inferior in depth of colour to A. textilis. Length 6.5 inches. 

 In the rocky sides of the gorges of the Maedonnell Ranges they 

 are chiefly found, in flocks of from six to ten birds, apparently 

 living in the most perfect harmony. Mr. Keartland saw several 



