WHITE- WINGED WREN. 
“ Some years ago I noticed that the bine feathers in the interscapular region 
in these birds were really long pendent feathers growing on the base of the back 
of the neck, and if these are raised by a pencil, white feathers will be observed 
growing beneath them, right across the back. The pendent blue feathers 
overlap them in triangular form and hang down over the mid-lower back. 
Many specimens obtained in various parts of mid-west Australia have been 
examined in the flesh, immediately after shooting, and all had white feathers 
underneath the blue, varying in amount according to the season, as these 
white feathers largely fall out at the moult. Much depends, too, on the 
making of a skin as to whether these white feathers show or not. At certain 
stages of the moult the pendent blue feathers may be very scanty, causing 
more white to show. After examining a long series from various parts of 
Australia, Mr. G. M. Mathews and myself are agreed that there is but one 
species which must stand as Hallornis cyanotus (Gould), and of which M alums 
leuconotus Gould is a synonym.” 
Whitlock then gave a fairly complete account from which I quote : 
“ During my travels in Western Australia I frequently met with the White- 
winged or Blue and White Wren. It has an extensive range. . . Generally 
speaking, it is an inhabitant of the hot, dry interior . . its favourite 
haunts are samphire flats around the shores of the vast salt lakes. In 
latitudes farther south it inhabits the sand plains, but the nearer the latter 
approach the forest country, the scarcer this Wren becomes. It approaches 
the coast-line the farther north its range extends, and may be found adjacent 
to the seashore in many parts of our north-west. With such an extended 
habitat it naturally shows some variation in plumage. This is most apparent 
in the brilliance or otherwise of the blue coloration, the brightest birds being 
found, according to my observations, in the hot interior, where the species is 
most plentiful. On the sand plains of the south-west, where it is far from 
common, the blue appears to be of a deeper shade, and the wdiite not so pure. 
Again, in the far north, amongst the spinifex, where its range must about 
reach its limit in that direction, the general appearance is less striking. It 
is smaller, has a deeper-toned plumage, and the ear-coverts do not differ much 
in tint from the remainder of the blue plumage. It is a hardy little bird. . 
Even in the driest seasons pairs are found nesting. . . At nesting time the 
male is generally near at hand, usually with only the female in his company, but 
not uncommonly two or three brown birds may be present. The female is 
a close sitter, and comes within a few feet of the observer when near the nest. 
At all times the male adult is very wary and difficult of a near approach. In 
old males, the bill once it attains its full coloration, is always black. Males 
frequently breed in the brown plumage. Full nuptial plumage, as a rule. 
VOL. x. 
81 
