Part 15

J. & E. Gould del^t. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

MALURUS ELEGANS, Gould. Graceful Wren.

Malurus elegans, Gould, Birds of Australia, Part I. Aug. 1837.

Djur-jeel-ya, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia.

This is not only the largest species of the genus yet discovered, but may be considered as one of the most beautiful and elegant of its race: the delicate verditer-blue of the centre of the back, and the larger size and more spatulate form of its tail-feathers, at once distinguish it from Malurus Lamberti, the species to which it is most nearly allied. It is an inhabitant of the western coast of Australia; all the specimens I possess were collected at Swan River, where it is tolerably abundant. Mr. Gilbert states, that although in its economy it very closely resembles M. splendens, it nevertheless differs from that species in the nature of the localities it frequents, which are usually swampy situations, while M. splendens is more generally spread over all parts of the country. It is also said to differ slightly in its song, in commencing with one distinct note and then singing precisely like the former.

The nest, which is neither characterized by neatness nor compactness, is dome-shaped, with a hole in the side for an entrance, and is generally formed of the thin paper-like bark of the Tea-tree (Melaleuca), and lined with feathers: it is also usually suspended to the foliage of this tree, and occasionally to that of other shrubs which grow in its favourite localities. The eggs are four in number, of a delicate flesh-white freckled with spots of reddish brown, which are much thicker at the larger end; they are about eight lines long and six lines broad. The breeding-season commences in September and continues during the three following months.

The food consists of insects.

The males are subject to the same law relative to the seasonal change of plumage as the Malurus cyaneus, and the other members of the group.

The male has the forehead, ear-coverts, sides of the face and occiput rich verditer-blue; centre of the back light verditer-blue; scapularies chestnut; throat, chest, back of the neck and rump deep velvety black, the throat in certain lights tinged with blue; wings brown; abdomen and under tail-coverts huffy white; tail dull bluish green, crossed by numerous indistinct bars, seen only in some positions, and very slightly tipped with white; bill black; eyes and feet blackish brown.

The female has all the upper surface and wings brown; throat and under surface buff-white; tail as in the male, but more dull, and devoid of the white at the extremity of the feathers; bill dull reddish brown, lighter beneath; space between the bill and eyes reddish brown; legs brown.

The figures are of the natural size, on the Isopogon alternatus.

MALURUS PULCHERRIMUS: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

MALURUS PULCHERRIMUS, Gould. Beautiful Wren.

Malurus pulcherrimus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XII. p. 106.

A more beautiful bird than the present species, which must be regarded as the representative in Western Australia of the Malurus Lamberti, can scarcely be imagined. It is moreover an evidence that this hitherto unexplored portion of the country is not less rich in interesting productions than are those parts which have been much longer known to us.

The Malurus pulcherrimus is very nearly allied to the M. Lamberti, but is of a larger size, and also differs from that species in having the throat and breast of a rich deep blue instead of black.

For a knowledge of this species I am indebted to the researches of Mr. Gilbert, who informs me that “it appears to be exclusively confined to the thickets of the interior of Western Australia; in habits and manners it greatly resembles the other members of the genus, but its nest is somewhat smaller than that of either of them. A nest found on the 28th of October, in the vicinity of the Wongan Hills, was placed on the upper branches of a species of Hakea about four feet from the ground; it contained two newly-laid eggs, which resembled those of the other species of the genus, but had the blotches very much larger.”

Crown of the head and a broad band across the centre of the back rich glossy violet-blue; space surrounding the eye and the ear-coverts verditer-blue; throat intense indigo-blue, bounded below by an indistinct band of black; lores, collar surrounding the back of the neck, and the lower part of the back, deep velvety black; scapularies chestnut; wings brown; tail dull greenish blue, indistinctly barred with a darker tint and slightly tipped with white; abdomen and under tail-coverts white; bill and feet black; irides dark brown.

The figures represent two males and a female of the natural size.

MALURUS LAMBERTI: Vig. & Horsf.

J. & E. Gould del^t. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

MALURUS LAMBERTI, Vig. & Horsf. Lambert’s Wren.

Malurus Lamberti, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 221.—Jard. and Selb., Ill. Orn., vol. ii. pl. 72. fig. 2.—Gould, Syn. Birds of Australia, Part I.

Superb Warbler, White’s Journ., pl. in p. 256, low. fig.—Phillips, Voy., pl. in p. 157, male.

Variegated Warbler, Lewin, Birds of New Holl., pl. xv.

Although far less common and much more local than M. cyaneus, this species ranges over a greater extent of country, being an inhabitant of most parts of New South Wales, the interior in the neighbourhood of the Namoi and the north-west coast, whence I received several specimens, forming part of an interesting collection kindly sent me by Mr. Dring. I found it tolerably abundant on the Namoi, where it was sometimes associated with its congener M. cyaneus.

In New South Wales the neighbourhood of Botany Bay is one of its most favourite resorts, and it is occasionally seen near Sydney, and even in the small gardens within the town. A beautiful specimen in the Museum of this place was killed on the lawn in front of that establishment, which is situated within the precincts of the town, and surrounded on all sides by houses. It does not inhabit Van Diemen’s Land, nor did I observe it in South Australia, or hear of its ever having been seen there, neither have I received it from the colony of Swan River.