PURPLE-CROWNED WREN. 
his great journey from the Victoria River to Moreton Bay. Soon after 
his return to England it became evident that he had contracted the disease 
called hcemoptysis, which speedily obliged him to remove to a warmer climate ; 
he selected one of the West Indian Islands, and, on arriving, commenced 
his investigations with his usual spirit, but he rapidly became worse, and 
science shortly had to deplore the loss of one of her most enthusiastic 
votaries. . . The little I saw of this gentleman impressed me with the 
belief that he had a true love for nature ; and, had he been spared, I feel 
assured he would have distinguished himself greatly in one or other branch 
of the natural sciences.” 
Gould only added : “ The M alums coronatus is an inhabitant of the 
countries bordering the Victoria River. Both sexes were procured, and 
they now form part of the collection in the British Museum.” 
Notwithstanding this clear statement, over fifty years afterwards it 
was claimed by two prominent Australian ornithologists as a “ new ” bird 
for the Northern Territory, and a note was given : “ A female only of the 
latter was obtained, which appears darker in general coloration than 
Gould’s figure ( Birds of Australia, Suppl. pi. 20).” They may have been 
misled through the fact that Rogers had found it numerous at Wyndham 
in the North-west, and previously on the Eitzrov River, near Derby. Hall 
had printed Rogers’ notes on his first acquaintance : “I showed these 
skins to a black boy who resides up the river. He says they are always 
found in the billabongs high up the Margaret River, a tributary of the Fitz- 
roy and about 150 miles from here. A black boy from the coast to the 
north of Derby did not know the species. I got the specimens in dense long 
grass and found them very shy. When feeding, it searches amongst dead 
leaves upon the ground, upon which I found it feeding. It rapidly hops 
and occasionally flies a few paces when feeding. It also takes insects,, like 
Flycatchers, upon the wing. On 7/11/00, I noticed two males and one feihale; 
the female securing a large grub, the duller of the males immediately 
followed her, and, watching his opportunity, secured one end of it. After 
a tug for mastery during thirty seconds, he robbed her and flew away. A 
few seconds later the finer-plumaged male was preening her feathers.” 
Bowyer-Bower’s notes read: “These birds are found in a bamboo-like 
growth, some times many yards from the riverside. . . They are very 
inquisitive, the females coming within two or three yards of one. They all 
have the power of raising the feathers of the crown of the head, which greatly 
increases the apparent size of that part. The females seem to lead the parties 
or families, and they are never far from the water’s edge. While moving along, 
they constantly utter a call 4 chirrip 5 which seems to be repeated by each 
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