THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
yards at a time, but move along through large bunches of spinifex in a 
surprisingly rapid way. Not a single bird was seen on my trip to Yardie Creek 
in August, 1913.” 
Heartland’s account of the (at present) missing form may be here 
inserted : “ When approaching Separation Well we were surprised to find 
a species of small bird hiding in the spinifex. Numbers were seen, but, 
owing to their agility in concealing themselves and their disinclination to 
fly, it was difficult work to secure them. The first one obtained was caught by 
Messrs. L. A. Wells and G. L. Jones, by simply throwing a waterproof sheet 
over the tussock in which it secreted itself, and then removing the grass by 
degrees until the bird was caught. It proved to be an immature female. 
At the Well I succeeded in obtaining three more (two males and one female). 
The males were exceedingly brilliant in colour, the throat being of a very 
bright lavender-blue. These were all shot in a low acacia bush or a sandhill. 
Three of their nests were found in the spinifex, but the young ones had all 
taken flight. These nests closely resembled those of the Maluri , but had 
rather large side openings. It was extremely unfortunate that these skins 
were lost, as, although entered on my notes as Emu- Wrens, I am strongly of 
opinion that it is a separate species, as the tail-feathers were very close in 
texture, and the throat of the male much more highly coloured than in any 
specimen of Stipiturus melachurus I had previously seen.” 
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