BLUE WREN. 
of its newly-hatched young have called forth a new feeling, and given its energies 
a new direction. During the winter months no bird can be more tame and 
familiar, for it frequents the gardens and shrubberies of the settlers, and hops 
about their houses as if desirous to court, rather than shun, the presence of 
man ; but when adorned with his summer plumage, the male becomes more 
shy and retiring, appearing to have an instinctive consciousness of the danger 
to which his beauty subj ects him ; nevertheless they will frequently build 
their little nest and rear their young in the most populous places. The short 
and rounded wing incapacitates it for protracted flight, but the amazing facility 
with which it passes over the surface of the ground fully compensates for this 
deficiency ; its mode of progression can scarcely be called running, it is rather 
a succession of bounding hops, performed with great rapidity ; while thus 
employed its tail is carried perpendicularly, or thrown forward over the back ; 
indeed, the tail is rarely, if ever, carried horizontally. The breeding season 
continues from September to January, during which period two, if not three, 
broods are reared ; the young of one being scarcely old enough to provide 
for themselves, before the female again commences laying. . . . The song 
is a hurried strain, somewhat resembling that of the Wren of Europe. The 
stomach is muscular, and the food consists of insects of various kinds, collected 
on the ground, the trunks of fallen trees, etc.” 
Mr. E. E. Howe has written me from Victoria : “Is very common along 
the creeks ; indeed, in almost any place where there is good cover this useful 
little bird is to be found. It is said that males in full plumage are to be found 
at any time of the year, but I have never yet seen a male in its beautiful blue 
livery after March or before July. Between those months the male is only 
distinguished by a shade of blue in the tail, but in everjr other part it resembles 
the female. As late as September 21st we secured specimens of a M alums just 
throwing off their winter dress. The making of the nest is divided between 
the birds, but I have never yet seen a male help in the work of incubation which 
lasts about thirteen days. The young are born blind and featherless (with the 
exception of a tuft of down on the crown of the head), the gape is white and 
the mouth yellow. At a week old the eyes are open and the plumage is well 
fledged, and they leave the nest in about twelve days.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby wrote “ Common throughout the Adelaide district 
especially in the Mt. Lofty Hills. It is also common in all the southern and 
eastern parts of Victoria. In Kangaroo Island is a larger and more robust 
bird. The blue is of a slightly deeper shade. I consider it intermediate between 
the mainland form and that called by Campbell M. elizabethce from King Island, 
Bass Straits. I cannot perceive sufficient difference to deserve distinction of 
the latter as a separate species.” 
53 
