Rete nt ee

HYLACOLA CAUTA, Gowa.

Cautious Wren.

Hylacola cauta, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 135.

 

Tue only locality in which I have seen this species is the great scrub clothing the banks of the river
Murray in South Australia, where it was not uncommon, but so excessively shy that I obtained a single
specimen only during my stay in the district. Its timidity being so great, and its natural habitat the
more dense parts of the scrub, it is a species which must for a long time be exceedingly scarce in our
collections. The individual killed was fired at within a few yards of where I stood, it being impossible
to sight it at a greater distance.

With the exception of its being even more shy, its whole habits and economy appeared to be very similar
to those of the preceding species (HZ. pyrrhopygia). It carries its tail perfectly erect, and hops over the
ground and threads the bushes with the greatest alacrity; generally keeping among the more dense parts
of the low bushes, and only exposing itself on the outermost twigs when desirous of pouring forth its song,
which is sweet and harmonious, and by which its presence is more frequently detected than by any other
means.

I could neither find the nest and eggs myself nor obtain any information respecting them; but I have no
doubt that when discovered the nest will be found to be of a domed form, with a small hole for an entrance,
and the eggs very similar to those of the Madu. In size the H/. cauta is rather less than the H. pyrrhopygia,
has the markings of the under surface much bolder, and the chestnut-coloured mark on the rump of a much

 

deeper tint.
Line from the base of the upper mandible along the side of the face and over the eye white ; above this

a narrow line of black ; crown of the head and all the upper surface brown ; upper and under tail-coverts
bright chestnut ; wing-coverts brown, edged with brownish white ; primaries brown, with the outer web
white at the base, forming a conspicuous spot in the centre of the wing; tail blackish brown, tipped with
white; throat striated with black and white, produced by each feather being black down the centre and
fringed with white ; flanks mottled brown and white ; abdomen white; bill dark brown ; irides buffy white ;
feet flesh-brown.

The figures are of the natural size.