FERN-WREN. 
instead of white ; cheeks and throat white, followed by a broad black band across 
the lower throat, extending to the sides of the neck ; remainder of under-surface 
fulvous-brown slightly rufescent on the sides of the body, the centre of the breast 
somewhat washed with grey ; under tail-coverts fulvous-brown, with dull olive- 
yellowish tips to the feathers ; under wing-coverts like the breast, with a slight 
olive tint, those round the bend of the wing fawn colour ; quills dusky-brown below, 
somewhat ashy along the inner web. Total length 122 mm. ; culmen 17, wing 65, 
tail 45, tarsus 22. 
The above is the description of the type specimen, now lost. 
Nest. “ Dome-shaped, with large oval entrance in the side. Composed almost entirely 
of fresh green moss, with a slight admixture of fine black fern stems. No lining 
other than green moss. Measurements 7 inches high, 5 from front to back. Entrance 
2 inches by | inch.” (North.) 
Eggs. Clutch two — white. 22 mm. by 17. 
Breeding-season. November and December. 
This beautiful and very distinct bird is one of the best discoveries made in 
the Cairns District and has so far no near relation. 
The account of the nest finding was published by North at the time of 
introduction of his new genus in an absurd periodical for such an item, but was 
reprinted in the Emu so that it is accessible to all oologists. 
In view of our ignorance of its habits it is unfortunate that Messrs. Campbell 
and Barnard should have failed to give any account, contenting themselves with 
writing : “ This species is one of the novelties of the northern scrubs. It 
spends almost its whole time on the ground, and resembles the Sericornes. It 
builds a bulky nest, almost entirely of moss, and as large as a football, which 
is suspended to a fern or low bush near the ground. The entrance is at the 
side. We were unfortunate in not taking eggs. One nest we had under 
surveillance was rifled by some enemy (beast).” 
Y\ 
VOL. X. 
41 
