THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
that had only recently left the nest. Another pair was found building a 
nest, which was afterwards deserted. At Byromine on the 10th April, Mr. 
McLennan was rather puzzled with these birds when he found them mated 
and nesting, with both male and female alike in plain brown plumage. He 
found two nests containing eggs and secured the pair of birds from the second 
one. Both were brown. Stomach contents in both, small grasshoppers and 
other insects. Another pair was found building and specimens were secured. 
The breeding male was also in plain brown dress. They were again noted at 
Cloncurry and on the Leichhardt, where they were very plentiful, and all brown, 
in June. Writing from Augustus Downs, on the Leichhardt, under date 4th 
July? Mr. McLennan states : “ One thing I noticed regarding these birds is 
that the three lots that I found breeding were three pairs only — not a male and 
two or three females as with other species ; but now I am finding them in 
small flocks.” Until after this date Mr. McLennan was of opinion that the 
plain brown Wren Warblers were a species apart from the other, in which 
the males were always brown. However, he changed his opinion at this 
camp, where he found these Wrens in large flocks, as many as thirty in some 
of them. From one of these flocks he shot two specimens, one of which 
had a few crimson feathers on the back and a few black ones round the eyes 
and on the head, showing that the birds were M. cruentatus, changing their 
winter plumage for the early spring breeding. At Cape York this species 
frequents the open pockets and is never found in the scrub. I have com- 
pared fully-plumaged males from Cairns, Cape York and the Gulf country, 
and can find little, if any, difference.” 
Harvey Brothers have written about Mackay birds : “ This is the only 
M alums found in our locality. It frequents grassy flats and open forest 
country, and is plentiful all over the district. Odd nests of this species, 
containing either eggs or young, are to be found all the year round, but 
the majority nest between the months of December and March. The nest is 
composed chiefly of grass stems and Melaleuca bark and lined with horse- 
hair. The male bird assists with the building, but his plain little mate does 
the lion’s share. He also takes part in feeding the young ones, although 
in one case that came under our notice the young birds were being fed by 
two females. When the young are very small they are fed almost ex- 
clusively on ‘ lacewings,’ but as they become stronger, cicadas and other 
large insects are preferred. The Wren is a favourite foster parent of the 
Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo, and is also imposed upon by the Square- 
tailed Cuckoo.” 
Mr. J. P. Rogers’ notes are here transcribed: “Derby, September 10, 
1908. These birds feed very late. This evening I saw a party of these 
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