UNIFORM GRASS-WREN. 
dark brown with pale shafts and pale fringes to the feathers ; inner webs of flight- 
quills blackish-brown with rufous margins ; tail-feathers dark brown, slightly fringed 
with rufous-brown and obsolete dark cross-bars ; the feathers behind the nostrils 
rufous at the base ; a slightly indicated black moustachial streak ; throat and breast 
rufous with white shaft-streaks becoming uniform on the abdomen ; sides of body 
bright chestnut fading to dusky rufous-brown on the lower flanks, thighs, and under 
tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts rufous ; margins of quills below cinnamon, 
remainder of quill-lining dark brown; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper- 
surface. Eyes light brown, feet slaty-black, bill black, lower base leaden-black. 
Total length 168 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 64, tail 77, tarsus 26. Figured. Collected 
at Carminnia Rock-hole, Everard Ranges, South Australia, on the 12th of August, 
1914. (Plate 472, lower right hand figure.) 
Immature. Resemble the adults in general. 
Nest and eggs. Not described. 
Captain S. A. White recorded under the name “ Diaphorillas textilis {?) ” 
(Western Grass-Wren) : “I have my doubts about this bird being D. textilis , 
although it answers to the description of the bird allotted the name by North, 
in the Horn Expedition. We found them hopping over the stones (in a 
very lively manner, calling loudly) on the slopes of the MacDonnell Ranges.” 
Later, under my name of D. textilis purnelli, he added : “ Very numerous 
amongst the porcupine-grass growing on the foothills of the Musgrave and 
on the Everard Ranges. Found it very difficult to obtain specimens, for 
they kept so close to cover that they would allow’ themselves to be trampled 
on almost before making off. The female shows a great deal more rufous 
coloration on the flanks than the male. Their coloration harmonizes 
most wonderfully with the reddish-brown granite. Just before sundown the 
male bird will sit upon a bare rock and sing a sweet little twittering song, 
but at the slightest sound darts like a mouse to cover.” 
Captain S. A. White has written me under name D. t. purnelli : “We 
first met with this bird in 1914 along the MacDonnell Ranges. These 
birds w’ere not seen much out in the spinifex ; they seemed to keep to the 
granite rocks and ranges, seldom took to flight, but invariably depended upon 
their legs to carry them from one piece of cover to another, if pressed they 
half extended their wings and glided over an open space on tip -toe, then darted 
away like a mouse. They have a very pleasing little song which they give 
forth night and morning ; the only note heard during the day being a short 
alarm call.” 
Hill had recorded this species from the MacDonnell Ranges under the 
name Amytornis textilis writing : “ Were plentiful both in the gorges and 
on the porcupine-grass covered rises at the foot of the ranges. Irides light 
umber, feet and bill dark horn. Crop contents — seeds of acacia, seeds of 
Trioda sp. and sand.” 
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