FAIRY WRENS OF THE HEATH AND SHRUBS 
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es *' A dome-shaped structure with a rounded entrance near the 
top, composed of grasses, bark-fibre and wool ; lined with feathers, fine 
grasses, or wool. Usually placed near the ground in a low bush, favourite 
nesting-sites being salt- bushes and blue-bushes. 
Eggs • — Three or four, white to rich pinkish or faint reddish-white, 
finely freckled, dotted, and blotched with shades varying from rich pinkish- 
red to rich red, the markings being more numerous at the larger end, 
where sometimes a zone is formed. Breeding-season : September t>o 
November or December. 
3. Turquoise Wren Malurus calldinus Gould 
cal-la-i-nus — Gk, calldinos , like the calldis (turquoise). 
Distribution. — South Australia (Spencer Gulf) to central Australia. 
Notes . — Usually in pairs or family parties, freely dispersed through 
low scrub and salt-bush, more especially along creeks, and gorges in the 
ranges. Similar in habits to the Blue Wren. Food: insects and their 
larvae. The female is very similar to the female Black-backed Wren. 
Nest. — A dome-shaped structure, composed throughout of soft dead 
grey grasses, intermingled with silky-white and brown plant down, the 
latter material also being used as a lining. Usually placed in a salt-bush, 
tangled cane-grass, or in a dead bush lying on the ground. 
Eggs . — Three or four, white, finely freckled, spotted, or blotched 
with different shades varying from a bright red to dull reddish-brown. 
Breeding-season: usually commences in November and lasts until the 
end of April. 
4. Splendid Wren Malurus splendens Quoy and Gaimard 
splen-dens — L., splendens , shining. 
Distribution. — South-western Australia, from the Stirling Ranges to 
Geraldton. 
Notes. — Also called Banded Wren. Usually in pairs or family 
parties, frequenting the thickets and low scrub of the coastal districts. 
Very similar in habits to the Blue Wren. Food: insects and their larvae. 
The female is similar in plumage to the female Black-backed Wren, but 
differs in having bluish outer webs to the bases of the flight feathers. 
Nest. — A dome-shaped structure with a rounded entrance near the 
top, composed of dried grasses ; lined with finer grasses, wool, or feathers. 
Usually placed in a low bush near the ground. 
Eggs— 1 Three or four, white to pinkish- white, freckled or spotted 
with purplish-brown, the markings being more numerous on the larger 
end. Breeding-season: August to December. 
5. Black-and-White Wren Malurus leucopterus Dumont — 5A. Female 
leUc-op'-ter-us — Gk, leucos, white; Gk, pteron, wing. 
Distribution. — Mid-western Australia (Dirk Hartog Island and 
Barrow Island). 
