HORN EXPEDITION—AVES. 
77 
Melanodryas bicolor, North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 105 (1889). 
One adult male, Finke River. 
[Generally found near scrub or watercourses. They were very tame and 
easily approached. As they are precisely similar in all respects to those found 
elsewhere, an extended notice is unnecessary.] 
No. 36. Malurus melanotus, Gould. Black-backed Superb Warbler. 
Malurus melanotus, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1840, p. 163; id. Bds. Austr., 
fob, Vol. III., pi. 20 (1848); Sturt, E.xpecl. Centr. Austr., Vol. II., App. p. 25 
(1849); Sharpe, Brit. Mus. Cat. Bds., Vol. IV., p. 288 (1879); North, Nests 
and Eggs, Austr. Bds., p. 114, pi. xiii., hg. 19 (1889). 
Two adult males, one immature male. Dr. Sharpe’s description of this species 
in the British Museum Catalogue of Birds has been taken from an immature male, 
and agrees precisely with the latter specimen. The fully adult male has the throat 
deep cobalt-blue, a band across the upper portion of the breast velvety-black ; the 
remainder of the under surface, tlank-feathers and under tail-coverts, cobalt-blue. 
j\Ir. Keartland has since received from Mr. E. C. Cowle the nest and eggs of this 
species, together with a skin of the male bird captured while sitting. The eggs 
resemble those of M. cyaneus, but are smaller, and have conspicuous zones towards 
the larger end. Length (A) 0'6 x 0'5 inches; (B) 0-63 x 48inches ; (C) 0'64 x 
0'49 inches. An egg of Lamprococcyx basalis was also deposited in this nest. 
[This is probably the most beautiful of the numerous species of Malurus. Our 
first specimen was killed by our black boy Harry. The specimen was unfor¬ 
tunately shattered to pieces, but sulKced to show the presence of the species at 
Leering Creek. Others were afterwards obtained at Hermannburg, along the 
Einke River, and at Deep Well. Like all the genus, they are found in dense 
saltbush or undergrowth, and were once in company with M. leucopterusl\ 
No. 37. Malurus lamberti. Vigors and Horsjield. Lambert’s Superb Warbler. 
Malurus lamberti, Vig. and Horsf., Trans. Linn. Soc., Vol. XV., p. 221 
(1826); Gould, Bds. Austr., fob, Vol. III., pb 24 (1848) ; Sharpe, Brit. Mus. Cat. 
Bds., Vol. IV., p. 292 (1879); Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., 2nd 
series, p. 168 (1887); North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 113 (1889). 
A $ ad. sk., Hermannburg. 
B. (? ad. sk., Henbury. 
