REVISION OF THE GENUS MALURUS. 
in the form of a subterminal bar to the feathers about the 
middle of the lower breast. 
Malurus (Hallornis) melanocephalus Latham. 
The range of this species is entirely coastal, extending from 
north-eastern New South Wales around the north of the 
continent to Derby in the north-west. This is the only wren 
found on the coast of Queensland between Cardwell and Rock- 
hampton, which localities form the southern and northern 
limits respectively of the range of many species. There are 
three recognisable races varying markedly in colour of the back 
and slightly in size. 
Malurus ( H .) melanocephalus melanocephalus (Latham). 
Muscicapa melanocepliala Latham, Index Orn. Sup., p. 52, 1801 ; New 
South Wales. 
Sylvia dorsalis Lewin, Birds, New Holl., pi. XIV, 1808 ; Patterson 
New South Wales. 
Malurus browni Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc., 15, p. 223, 1827 ; 
Thirsty Sound, South Queensland. 
Range. — North-eastern New South Wales, north probably to about the 
Burdekin River, E. Queensland (coastal). 
Specimens examined. — 21 from the following localities — Bellenger River, 
Grafton, Richmond River, Tweed River, N.E. New South Wales ; Moreton 
Bay, Moora Plains and Mackay, E. Queensland. 
Measurements . — 
Wing Tail Exposed Culmen Tarsus 
15 males . . 43-49 (45-2) 45-58 (50-6) 9 18-20 (19) 
6 females . . 41-47 (43T) 52-66 (56-3) 8-9 (8-8) 17-20 (18-8) 
Male. — Entirely velvety black with deep blue reflections, except wings, 
scapulars and back ; scapulars and back from neck to upper tail-coverts 
grenadine red ; wing-quills fuscous, innermost secondaries slightly darker ; 
upper wing-coverts black excepting inner webs of greater series which are 
fuscous ; axillaries and under wing-coverts black, inner margins of wing quill 
noticeably lighter. “Bill black ; eyes dark brown ; feet light brown.” 
Female. — Upper surface, including upper wing-coverts, drab, tinged tawny 
olive on lower back and upper tail-coverts ; ear-coverts and sides of nec.k light 
drab ; wing-quills hair-brown, outer margins much lighter, particularly those 
of the primaries ; tail sepia, feathers lighter on margins of outer webs ; lores 
and under surface white tinged buff, becoming pinkish buff on flanks and under 
tail-coverts like the under wing-coverts and inner margins of wing quills. 
“Bill dark horn ; eyes umber ; feet light brown.” 
Easily distinguished from the two northern races by the 
distinct orange (grenadine red) colour of the back and the lighter 
upper aspect of the wing. 
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